The Rangers will continue to limit Marc Staal's ice time until he gets a few more games under his belt. He may play more than the 12:41 minutes he was on the ice against the Flyers on Tuesday Thursday night against the Panthers, but he will not approach the 25 minutes he averaged last season. Staal has said his head is clear and that he felt better as Tuesday's game progressed. It will only be a matter of time before Staal resumes his regular workload.

Marc Staal was limited to 12:41 minutes of playing time in his return from a concussion during the 2012 Winter Classic. The fact that he was eased into the lineup isn't surprising, especially given that he wasn't even expected to return Monday. We got the first hint that Staal might play on Sunday, but it was mere hours before the game before his return suddenly looked probable. "To be honest, I kind of wrote (the Winter Classic) off for a long time so that when the day came and I wasn't playing, it wouldn't bother me as much," Staal said. "I felt all right. I didn't play a whole lot, but that was the plan - we talked about that (Sunday) night. I made some mistakes out there, but I'll try to get better." Once Staal shakes off the rust, he'll be a huge boost for the Rangers, who are already leading the Atlantic Division and have been great defensively.

Marc Staal (concussion) is a surprise addition to the Rangers' lineup for the Winter Classic on Monday. Staal has been progressing steadily over the last little while, but we're still shocked to hear that he's already ready to return. Rangers coach John Tortorella deflected questions on the subject Sunday, saying that "nothing's changed" after Staal was seen practicing alongside blueliner Dan Girardi. Staal is expected to be eased into the lineup, which means he'll be on the Rangers' third pairing. As a fun side note, Marc's brother, Jordan, similarly made his season debut during the 2011 Winter Classic.

Rangers coach John Tortorella indicated Sunday there was nothing new to report on the status of defenseman Marc Staal. There has been some speculation about an imminent return after Staal appeared at practice alongside defense partner Dan Girardi, but Tortorella was clear when speaking with reporters. "Nothing's changed, so don't work me on it, okay?" he said.

Marc Staal (concussion) was involved in contact drills during Monday's practice. "I did some battle drills down low, took some hits," Staal said. "It was good. Obviously I didn't feel great after two days off, physically, but I felt good enough to start doing drills." Staal's return isn't imminent, but the fact that he's now taking part in contact drills is a huge step forward.

Marc Staal (concussion) plans to speak with doctors on Monday about the possibility of being cleared for contact drills. Staal has been participating in the Rangers practices. He hasn't played yet this season and almost certainly won't be back in time for the 2012 Winter Classic.

Marc Staal (concussion) hasn't been granted clearance for contact yet, but he is still skating at team practices. He is hoping to resume contact drills after Christmas, but he doesn't expect to be ready in time for the Winter Classic on Jan. 2 against Philadelphia.

Marc Staal (concussion) is expected to resume contact drills in a few days. That would be a huge step forward for Staal, who has been progressing nicely in recent weeks. We still wouldn't dare attempt to predict when Staal will return - and the Rangers aren't offering any predictions either - but we're finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Marc Staal (concussion) has been encouraged by his progress over the last week, but there's still no timetable for his return. "Now we have to wait and see," Staal said. "The way this week has gone, I feel good. The unknown has been the hardest part. It's been frustrating, but I've been taking strides the last couple of weeks." Staal hasn't played this season.

Marc Staal (concussion) skated with his teammates during Tuesday's morning skate for the first time since training camp. This is a good step in his recovery, but he is still out indefinitely with a concussion.