Dan Girardi won’t play tonight when the Rangers visit Washington — think the Caps might want revenge for that 7–0 drubbing chronicled on 24/7? — because of a rib cage muscle injury sustained in a fight on Saturday night in Atlanta. Which means Michael Del Zotto, who was sent down to the AHL on January 2, will return to the Rangers lineup. Is he ready to return from his stint with the Whale? Not necessarily. Says John Tortorella, via the Post: “To be honest, I’d rather he still be playing there, but in the situation we’re in, he’s the guy.” Added the Rangers coach: “The reports I’ve gotten, he’s been good sometimes and bad sometimes [with the Whale], a little inconsistent. We’ll see.” [NYP]