GREENBURGH, N.Y. — With a cranky knee, defenseman Dan Girardi hobbled through perhaps the weakest season of his iron-man career as a Ranger.
Troubled by turnovers and unable to get to the puck quickly, the defenseman who turned 32 in April became the target of boo-birds at Madison Square Garden, in the press and on social media.
Many saw it as a sign that the wear-and-tear of having played 80 or more regular-season games, blocking shots aplenty, in the last seven non-lockout seasons, were taking its toll.
On Friday, asked about how much motivation he had after a long summer, Girardi said “Tons… I want to come out here and prove I can play.