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Rangers' Callahan Won't Rule Out Postseason Return

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Calling it "the best-case scenario of a bad situation," injured Rangers winger Ryan Callahan said on Wednesday that we won't need surgery for a broken right ankle.

That's not all. Callahan also said there's an outside chance he can return to the ice if the Blueshirts make a decent enough run through the playoffs.

"There's no surgery or anything like that," said Callahan, who suffered the break while blocking a Zdeno Chara shot in the final minutes of New York's 5-3 win over Boston on Monday. "So hopefully we can keep winning and I can get back in there and help the guys in the playoffs."

While the Rangers are in a fairly good position to make the playoffs after a one-year absence, the loss of Callahan hurts greatly. The winger said it doesn't diminish their chances of making significant strides once they get to the postseason.

"I have all the confidence in the world that we can continue this run and continue it in the playoffs," Callahan said. "This team has battled through injuries all year and has responded in the correct way, and I don't think that's going to change with me in or out of the lineup."

To fill in for Callahan, head coach John Tortorella said that defenseman Matt Gilroy, a healthy scratch for six straight games, will rejoin the lineup as a forward Thursday against Atlanta.

"Nothing's changed and I've practiced against the guys playing forward so you kind of know what the jobs are," Gilroy said. "I'll just talk to them a little bit, ask a few questions and we should be fine. ... I have to prove that I can do it on the ice."

Callahan is high on the scoring list despite playing in only 60 games. He is fifth in the NHL among forwards with 77 blocks, and the Rangers are second in the league with 672.

"To sit out at this time, it's tough for me, but at the same time, I'm gonna try and stick around the room and stay positive and do what I can to help the guys."

Will Callahan make it back to the ice? Make your prediction in the comments below...

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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