Martin St. Louis gives emotional speech after Rangers Game 6 victory (VIDEO)

The New York Rangers impressive Game 6 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday night was heartwarming rather than heartbreaking in more ways than one.

While the Blueshirts kept their playoff hopes alive with the 3-1 win — their second W in a row — it was particularly emotional for star forward Martin St. Louis whose mother unexpectedly died of a heart attack on Thursday.

St. Louis rejoined the Rangers in time for Game 5 after a brief visit home to be with his family. Then, on Sunday — Mother's Day — St. Louis scored the game's first goal and helped the Rangers stave off elimination on home ice.

St. Louis' family was in the building for Game 6 and a loud Madison Square Garden crowd showed their affection for him by changing "Marty" throughout the game.

The emotions continued to pour out after the game in New York's dressing room.

It is customary for the Rangers to give their player of the game “The Broadway Hat." St. Louis earned it in Game 5, so it was his task to give it out on Sunday. He couldn't narrow it down to one player, though.

St. Louis delivered an emotional speech to his teammates, awarding the hat to the entire team for their effort.

“Great win, boys,” St. Louis said to the room full of Rangers. “You've gotta picture it, ya know. You gotta believe it. You gotta see it in your head that every thing's possible.

"Everybody pushed tonight. I can't pick one guy, I gotta give it to the whole team. You guys have been nothing but unbelievable for me these past couple days and I'll never forget that. This was a team [expletive] win tonight. I couldn't be prouder to be a [expletive] New York Ranger with you guys.”

The Rangers will undoubtedly take these heartfelt words into Game 7 Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.

Slumping Rick Nash heartily booed by Rangers fans (VIDEO)

While Sidney Crosby was getting his first drink of water inside the net, Rangers Rick Nash‘s playoff goal scoring drought continues and is getting pretty intense.

Nash has no goals in 11 playoff games this year and has scored just two goals in 27 career postseason games. Only one of those scores have come with the New York Rangers.

For a guy that typically gets at least 30 goals per season — he finished with 26 in 2013-14, but was limited to 65 contests. 

“I understand it. It’s tough,” Nash said of being booed. "It doesn't matter what you do all year, it matters what you do in the playoffs when things count. Obviously I've been struggling."

And his glaring scoring deficiencies didn't go unnoticed by fans at Madison Square Garden where he was booed every time he had the puck Wednesday night.

Alain Vigneault think the Rangers might need a change — a wardrobe change.

"Their big boys put on the big boy pants," the Rangers coach said after a crucial Game 4 loss to Pittsburgh. "I need mine to do that."

Then he was asked if he needed to relay that message to his big boys.

Vigneault smirked and said, "I think they've picked up on it."

Rangers fan gets frightening image of Rick Nash cut into hair (PHOTO)

Most athletes are usually honored to have their number or image shaved into the hair on the back of devotee's head, but this Rangers fan's elaborate rendition of Rick Nash's face might scare the NHL star himself.  It is absolutely terrifying — even the Bauer logo looks sinister.

Let the nightmares begin.

Wow...this haircut is something else!!! #Nashty #NYRPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/5bvxzAQaz0
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 17, 2014

Rangers trade Ryan Callahan to Lightning for Martin St. Louis: Report

The New York Rangers, unable to strike a deal on a contract extension with Ryan Callahan, have traded their captain, along with a first- and second-round pick, for Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis, reports The New York Post.

St. Louis —who had his own personal issues in Tampa —  had asked Lightning ownership to trade him to the Rangers — and Rangers only — after he was originally snubbed for the Canadian Olympic team by his own general manager, Steve Yzerman, who oversaw Team Canada.

St. Louis was named as an injury replacement for teammate Steven Stamkos, but he nevertheless pressured management to be dealt after returning home with the gold medal.

The reigning Art Ross Trophy winner has one year remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $5.625 million.

Callahan, a career Ranger who will turn 29 later this month, had been seeking a six-year, $39 million extension while the Rangers had increased their offer to six years at $36M. But after weeks of negotiations, neither side seemed prepared to budge, thus leading to general manager Glen Sather’s accelerated pursuit of the high-scoring St. Louis.

Sean Avery joining ‘Dancing with the Stars’: Report

Sean Avery is joining the cast of “Dancing with the Stars,” according to Page Six of The New York Post.

The former NHL goon and fashionista has been spotted working out in preparation for the show at the New York studio of Gwyneth Paltrow’s trainer Tracy Anderson, sources told the gossip site.

The move will be Avery’s latest career change after working at high-fashion ad agency Lipman, which ran out of cash and closed last year.

Sources said the well-travelled NHL player recently posted a video of himself online showing off some Anderson-inspired dance moves to Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse,” but the video was taken down.

“DWTS” recently replaced host Brooke Burke-Charvet with sports reporter Erin Andrews.

Other contestants rumored to be joining the spring season include B-listers NeNe Leakes and Candace Cameron.

Season 18 kicks off on March 17.

Brad Richards announces engagement to model Rechelle Jenkins

Brad Richards had a lot to smile about while hosting his second annual "Wines of the World" charity event in midtown Manhattan Monday night.

The New York Rangers' veteran center arrived at the Stone Rose Lounge with Australian-born model Rechelle Jenkins on his arm and announced the two now are engaged.

Richards proposed during the Olympic break while on vacation in the Bahamas, and Jenkins had the shiny new hardware on her left hand Monday night to prove it. Richards popped the question while walking on the beach. The happy couple already live together in Manhattan.

The charity event benefits his Brad Richards Foundation, which support families with children in need, and the lounge was packed with supporters of Richards’ cause, including several of his Ranger teammates.

The festivities included the auctioning of select New York sports memorabilia, most of it autographed, highlighted by a signed Wayne Gretzky jersey and also a one-of-a-kind canvas photo of Henrik Lundqvist posing during January’s Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium next to Babe Ruth’s plaque in Monument Park.

Sadly, this probably means we won't be seeing Olivia Munn hanging around Madison Square Garden as the Rangers' good luck charm anymore.

Well ... just once more.

Teenager arrested for posting threatening tweets to Knicks owner James Dolan: Report

One disturbed fan from Staten Island just might be taking the New York Knicks disastrous season a little too personally— or maybe the recent hike in his cable bill.

Johnny Giamella — a 19-year-old son of a New York City cop — threatened the life of James Dolan, the owner of Madison Square Garden, the Knicks, the Rangers and cable TV giant Cablevision in several posts to his Twitter account, reported  the New York Daily News.

“James Dolan, it’s officially time to die,” Giamella allegedly tweeted. That was followed by the tweet, “Death to James Dolan,” police said.

Giamella also posted  pictures of himself holding a gun to the camera and a sharp metal object to his neck.

And in a bizarre photo, a naked Giamella is seen holding a gun over his penis, according to a criminal complaint.

Reached at the family’s home, Giamella’s mother declined to comment.

Dolan’s security chief noticed the alarming postings and reported them to police, the complaint says.

Giamella was charged harassment.

Snowy Yankee Stadium gets ready for Stadium Series hockey games (VIDEO)

MetLife Stadium isn't the only sports venue in the New York area prepping for fans to descend — the puck is about to drop on the Stadium Series this weekend with Rangers-Devils on Sunday afternoon.

After building the rink, Yankee Stadium appears set to host the game along with the Rangers-Islanders tilt next Wednesday night, though there's probably plenty of snow to clear out as these other photos and videos show.

Perfect polar bears and penguins.

Henrik Lundqvist's mask will pay homage to Yankees during Stadium Series (PHOTO)

When the New York Rangers take to the ice at Yankee Stadium as part of the NHL’s Stadium Series against the Devils and Islanders, goalie Henrik Lundqvist will be paying homage to New York Yankees heroes of the past.

Lundqvist is ditching his normal mask for a tricked-out paint scheme that has Yankee pinstripes down the front and images of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig on the right side. The mask was painted by Dave Gunnarsson and unveiled on Thursday.

"Henrik wanted to pay tribute to the fantastic Yankees of New York and have a clear baseball connection on the mask with portraits of legendary Yankees players. I loved the idea," said Gunnarsson.

"Henrik and me started to brainstorm and setup a plan how to create it."

The artwork they created  is a mix of Henrik's crisp designs, and a New York Rangers theme mixed with the passion of Yankees.

The Rangers play the Devils on Jan. 26 at Yankee Stadium, then the Islanders on Jan. 29 in the Bronx.

New York Rangers unveil Stadium Series jerseys in comedy sketch (VIDEO)

New York Rangers have released the jerseys they'll wear for their two Stadium Series games at Yankee Stadium this January.

Just in time for a last-minute Christmas pick-up, the team unveiled the uniforms they'll be wearing for the games — and they are a little underwhelming.

The team debuted the uniforms in a video posted Friday afternoon, featuring the Rangers'  Dan Girardi and New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

In the video, hockey Girardi has his jersey switched by the equipment manager in the scripted skit. After he goes to complain about having a Yankees jersey in his stall, the video cuts to the Yankees manager's office, where baseball Girardi is fully decked out in the Rangers' new get-up.

The Rangers will technically be the away team in both outdoor games at Yankee Stadium, taking on the Devils on Sun., Jan. 26 and the Islanders on Wed., Jan. 29.

The Islanders already released their jerseys, and the Devils will go retro with the red and green color scheme for the outdoor game, so we now more or less know what each team will look like.

NY mobster denied furlough from house arrest to see Rangers game with family

A Brooklyn judge has rejected a Genovese mobster's unusual request for a furlough from house arrest so he could take his wife and kids to the New York Rangers hockey game on Sunday.

According to the N.Y. Daily News, federal Judge Pamela Chen denied Felice Masullo's request to see the team battle the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden without giving a reason. Masullo's probation officer had objected because it would set a bad precedent, according to court papers. Prosecutors in the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's office took no position on the request.

Masullo is confined to his home from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for six months as part of his sentence for illegal gambling.

And the puck drops at 7:30.

"I'm sure he'll have a happy Christmas with his family regardless," said his disappointed defense lawyer Brendan White.

Wadda ya think this is ... Goodfellas?

Henrik Lundqvist agrees to seven-year, $59.5 million extension: Report

The New York Rangers have called a news conference for Wednesday to announce that the club has signed goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to a contract extension.

Sources told TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger that it's a seven-year deal worth $59.5 million a season.

The 31-year-old Lundqvist is 8-11 this season with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. However, Lundqvist has sat out the past two games behind Cam Talbot, and there was talk of a controversy brewing between the team and Lundqvist, even though both sides had said that the goalie had wanted to reduce the number of games he appeared in.

With the new contract, those rumors have sufficiently been put to rest.

The Swedish netminder in the final season of his six-year, $41.25 million contract and was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

In 531 career NHL games - all with the Rangers - he has a 284-182-57 record with a 2.26 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. His best season to date was 2011-12, when he posted a 39-18-5 record with a 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage and won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender.

Details are scarce as of Wednesday morning, and no official announcement has been made.

Islanders unveil new jersey for Stadium Series and it has NO island (PHOTO)

The Islanders unveiled their NHL Stadium Series jerseys, a sleek, contemporary take on their home uniforms to be worn when they face the Rangers at Yankee Stadium on Jan. 29.

There's just one thing missing on the Islanders' jerseys: The Island.

The classic emblem, featuring an orange profile of Long Island, has been done away with in favor of a more futuristic design. The Stadium Series jerseys simplify the team¹s symbol by enlarging the familiar top of the logo — an "NY" that morphs into a hockey stick — on the chest. General manager Garth Snow as well as coaches and players from the organization had input on the design.

Some fans might see it as an premature attempt for the team to disassociate itself from its longtime Long Island home as it prepares to move to Brooklyn's Barclays Center in 2015. A history of the Isles' jerseys over the years (except the reviled Fisherman uni) shows it always had The Island front and center.

Still, the new look already has a major fan in Islanders captain John Tavares, who modeled the uniform for publicity photos.

"I think they¹re really sharp," Tavares said after practice Tuesday. "We've seen in the past in a lot of outdoor games a kind of retro, heritage, old-school kinda look. But this is newer, more modern."

Tavares said the bold 'NY" on the outside is a fitting look, considering the opponent.

"Obviously playing the Rangers in that game, there's a lot of fight over who¹s New York¹s team and whatnot, and I think that's still who we are," he said. "That New York with the hockey stick."

Too bad they can't put Bossy, Trottier and Gilles on the inside of them.

[Newsday]

Concussion alters Rick Nash’s perspective on NHL 'headshots'

Rick Nash claims his whole outlook at hockey changed after Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart delivered the concussion-inducing headshot (video below) in San Jose on Oct. 8 that sidelined him for six weeks and 17 games.

The Rangers winger claims he wasn't expecting flowers, or anything from Hallmark for that matter, but Nash told the N.Y. Post he would have handled the situation differently if was on the other end of the play.

“Maybe he didn’t think it was so bad, I don’t know; not getting a call or text isn’t anything I’ve thought about,” said the Rangers’ winger, who returned to the lineup for Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Bruins. “I don’t think he was obligated.

“But for me, I would somehow have reached out to the guy under a similar circumstance. I don’t ever want to be in that spot or put anyone in that situation, but if so, I would do that.“We’re all in this together.”

The 29-year-old Nash said the comparatively lengthy recovery process attached to what was his second concussion in eight months has altered his perspective.

“I’ve come to realize that with all this stuff going on, I’m going to have more than half of my life to live after I retire,” he said. “There’s a lot to life after hockey.

“Headshots are a serious problem in the game. You see them all the time,” said Nash, whose team will play in Dallas on Thursday to open a five-game trip including stops in Nashville, Tampa Bay, Florida and Boston. “You watch the highlights and it seems like there’s a headshot every night.

“Something has to change.”

Stuart was suspended for three games for the questionable hit. And Nash agrees. But he won't put the onus of safety entirely on VP Brendan Shanahan, the Department of Player Safety or the NHL. The burden, Nash believes, is on the players to change their behavior.

“As a union, all the players are in it together,” Nash said. “I understand how it happens, the game is so fast, things happen quickly, and I know that I’ve had some hits that have been close calls, but we all have to take responsibility for changing some of the things we do out there.

“I understand that we don’t want to have huge suspensions for plays that are spontaneous and I’m OK with that, but the players as a group and the union have to take more responsibility for stopping these kinds of hits,” he said. “It’s up to the guys to have more respect for each other and our careers.”

Nash, who played just under 18 minutes  in his return, said he is playing with a clear mind; unafraid and unencumbered by doubt regarding his well-being on the ice.

“I’m confident. I know we covered every angle,” he said. “The organization made sure that I was checked by specialists, got all the time I needed and all the answers I was looking for.

“A big part of my recovery and me feeling as secure as I do is because the organization was so supportive. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Knicks, Rangers owner solicits donations from staff for NYC mayoral candidate: Report

New York City mayoral candidate Joe Lhota may be an underdog in the polls (some pollsters are already making the Rocky comparisons), but it's not for a lack of financial support from his former employer at Madison Square Garden.

Sources told the N.Y. Post that MSG/Cablevision head honcho Jim Dolan sent e-mails to his top staffers, asking them to donate $2,500 each to support their former colleague Lhota’s campaign. The Republican candidate was once an executive vice president of Cablevision for five years and, in 2010, he was appointed chief administrative officer at Madison Square Garden.

Though Dolan — no stranger to long-shots himself — sent the e-mail to employees back in March, some were still chuckling about the political solicitation, particularly as Lhota trails about 40 points behind Democratic opponent Bill de Blasio in the polls.

Another source minimized Dolan’s request, telling the Post: “I assume some people did donate, but it was a small thing.”

But remember, Dolan is the same owner who fired an MSG security guard who refused Dolan entry to a VIP suite last year when she didn't recognize her boss. So there has to be some trepidation within the ranks.

However, reports say employees of Cablevision, including those solicited by Dolan, have raised a healthy $94,000 for Lhota’s campaign.

Dumping money into a losing cause sounds about right for ol' Jimmy. 

A rep for MSG declined to comment.

Golden Gophers hockey players celebrate goal, get helmets stuck together (VIDEO)

The hockey battle between No. 1 Minnesota Golden Gophers against No. 5 Boston College got off to an great start Friday night.

Hudson Fasching, a Los Angeles Kings prospect and Minnesota freshman forward, scored just 30 seconds into the game by scoring on a rebound to make it 1-0. The Gophers came together to celebrate the goal and as most of the players skated to the bench, Fasching and teammate Brady Skjei, a first-round pick of the New York Rangers, couldn't seem to part. Turns out their helmets were stuck together.

Fasching used his head, though. He took his helmet off and continued the goal celebration helmetless. 

In college hockey, full face masks are required, so this type of situation is unique and rarely happens. In the NHL, removing your lid could land you in the penalty box.

First look at Madison Square Garden's 'sky bridge' seats (PHOTOS)

Knicks fans — who have gotten tired of hearing all about Barclays Center and its state-of-the-art architecture for the past year— finally have a chance to brag about Madison Square Garden after three years of renovation inside the 45-year-old structure.

Basketball and hockey fans will be “on top of the action’’ as never before at the newly revamped World's Most Famous Arena after the long-awaited debut of its sky bridge seats.

Never-before-seen photos show the centerpiece of the arena’s renovation — two revolutionary glass-walled seating “bridges” attached to the roof that hold 430 seats, reports the N.Y. Post.

The bridges include walkways behind the seats for fans to stroll along. The bridges can hold a total of 900 people who will be shelling out anywhere from $110 to $210 for the experience.

“[People] will be on top of the action as well as very close to it. There is nothing like this in the world,” said architect Murray Beynon, who headed the three-year project.

“It gets people right out there. These are the most unique seats in a sports arena anywhere in the world.”

The bridge seats are 94 feet away from the arena floor — about the same distance as existing front-row seats.A limited number of the special seats are still available.

The Garden has been shutting down for four to five months every year for the past three years to finish the billion-dollar renovation, which also includes wider concourses, mores suites and comfortable new balcony seating.

It reopens on Oct. 25 for a Knicks preseason game.

Nice. But these seats sure don't look as vertigo-inducing as the artist's rendering (below) of the walkway we were shown last year.

Brad Stuart gets 3-game suspension for high hit on Rick Nash (VIDEO)

A day after bumbling through a 9-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks, the New York Rangers used Wednesday to regroup before playing their fourth game on a long, season-opening road trip against the Ducks, probably without star Rick Nash, who likely suffered a concussion on a high hit from defenseman Brad Stuart.

After a disciplinary phone hearing Wednesday with Brendan Shanahan, senior vice president of the NHL's Department of Public Safety, Stuart was suspended three games.

Nash, who played seven more shifts after Stuart's hard hit at 2:32 of the first period, said afterward that he had a "headache," but didn't feel it at first. "It got worse as it went on. It just didn't feel right. I haven't seen a replay, but he caught me right across the head, so, I guess it's a head shot. I felt it right across here," pointing to the right side of his face and jaw.

"Anytime you get a headshot you're concerned, to feel the way it feels. It's not a good feeling."

Nash previously suffered a concussion in February 2012 on a hit from behind by Boston's Milan Lucic and was on injured reserve for four games.

Madison Square Garden gets eviction notice

The shot clock is winding down on the World's Most Famous Arena and Madison Square Garden has to move from its current spot above Penn Station to a new location within 10 years.

Despite public pleas from former New York Knicks stars Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier and celebrities like superfan Spike Lee, the City Council voted 47-1 in favor of the 10-year limit to the lease after MSG had requested to operate continually —although there is a puncher's chance it could be extended.

Council members and civic leaders want to move the New York City home to the Knicks and Rangers so Penn Station can be overhauled in a three-year, $1 billion renovation.

The current Garden opened in 1968 and has hosted many legendary concerts and boxing matches to go with its glorious hockey and basketball past but has recently had to duke it out with the slick new Barclays Center across the East River and heavy-fisted NYC  bureaucrats.

“Madison Square Garden will have to move, and I think this permit sends the message that that work needs to begin now,” City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said. “We need to make sure Penn Station becomes what we need it to be, a really 21st century grand entrance into the greatest city in the world, not ... what Sen. [Daniel] Moynihan or others historically described as a bunch of rat tunnels that lead people in and out of the city every day.”

Since the City Planning Department already approved the permit, the Council vote makes it final. It does not need a signoff from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The Madison Square Garden Company predicted the arena has a “bright” future. “Madison Square Garden has operated at its current site for generations, and has been proud to bring New Yorkers some of the greatest and most iconic moments in sports and entertainment,” the company said in a statement Wednesday. “We now look forward to the reopening of the arena in fall 2013, following the completion of our historic, three-year, nearly billion-dollar transformation, which will ensure our future is as bright as our celebrated past.”

Seventh Avenue and 33rd Street will never be the same. Neither will Spike.

Alain Vigneault inks 5-year deal to coach Rangers: Report

The New York Rangers have reportedly hired Alain Vigneault to be their next head coach. The contract is for five years and worth $10 million, according to CBC Sports.

The ex-Vancouver Canucks coach replaces the departed John Tortorella, who was fired by the Rangers after the team was ousted by the Boston Bruins in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Vigneault was fired in May — less than two years after guiding his club to the Stanley Cup final — after his team fizzled out in the first round of the playoffs. The Canucks were swept by the sixth-place San Jose Sharks. It was just the first time in 12 years Vancouver was eliminated in four straight playoff games.

The 52-year-old Vigneault comes with plenty of experience, having been at the helm of the Canucks since replacing Marc Crawford in 2006, and compiling a regular-season coaching record of 313-170-57 with Vancouver. He led the team to two Presidents' Trophy titles and won the Jack Adams award in 2007.

So why did Vigneault choose New York over the Dallas Stars, where some reports said he was leaning last week?

"In the end, though, people who know Vigneault said memories of 2011 directed him to New York. To get that close to the Stanley Cup hurts, especially if you've never won it. His best chance to win comes in Manhattan," wrote CBC's Elliotte Friedman.

He previously coached the Montreal Canadiens from 1997-2001.