John Tortorella accepted blame for the Rangers’ disappointing season while simultaneously arguing that, well, it wasn’t disappointing. But the coach also acknowledged on breakup day Monday in Greenburgh that the team needs to improve:
 
“I’ve stated what I’ve felt right along here about the hockey club: We do need some depth,” Tortorella said. “I think we need to be a stiffer team throughout the lineup. It’s very evident in the way we played, because we had some really good minutes in playing, and then we just couldn’t sustain it. And I’m hoping we get stronger there.”
 
You can read about Henrik Lundqvist’s lukewarm reaction to talk of a contract extension here, as well as the desires of several free agents to remain in New York. But here is the transcript of Tortorella’s final interview of the 2012-13 season:
 
How tough was is it to say goodbye to team after second-round exit: “Well you want to keep on playing. (We) just touched base with them about some of the things that have gone on in the year, make sure they’re aware of what’s in the future. I mean that’s what you have to start looking to right away is how do we get better? So you address some of those things and get prepared for another camp.”
 
What he thinks of Nash’s postseason performance: “You start asking me about players I’m going to be rating them all over the place. I’m not gonna rate players right now. I don’t think it’s the proper place to do it right now.”
 

BOSTON – The injury sidelining Rangers defenseman Anton Stralman is a facial fracture, the Daily News has learned, likely sustained on a Milan Lucic hit from behind with 6:54 remaining in the second period of Game 3 at the Garden on Tuesday.
 
Stralman played only one more in shift that night and has not played in a game or practiced since. There is no timetable for a return for the 26-year-old defenseman, who is also bothered by a shoulder ailment, according to a source. But it’s unlikely he would be available at any point in the rest of this series, at least, if the Rangers force a Game 6 and 7.
 
The Rangers signed the Swedish blue liner as a free agent on Nov. 5, 2011. He had two goals and 18 points in 53 regular season games last season, then posted three goals and six points playing in all 20 playoff games.
 
This season, Stralman improved and locked down a top-four spot in the Rangers’ defensive rotation. He had four goals and seven points playing in all 48 games during this lockout-shortened regular season, and though he had no points in this year’s 10 playoff appearances, Stralman excelled defensively for the majority of the first-round series against the Washington Capitals and performed well early against the Bruins, becoming more physical in his own zone.
 
His improvement has been important for a Rangers organization that lost defenseman Michael Sauer indefinitely last season due to a concussion and again is without injured defenseman Marc Staal (blurred eyesight in right eye, orbital bone fracture since healed from a puck to the face on March 5).

Veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik has replaced Stralman in the lineup for Games 4 and 5.
 
Have a question about the Blueshirts or a comment? Find Pat on Twitter at @NYDNRangers.

The Rangers survived with a 4-3 overtime win in Game 4 at the Garden on Thursday night, but they did it with one of their team leaders, veteran center Brad Richards, made a healthy scratch.
 
John Tortorella, who won the 2004 Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay with Richards as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner and has a close relationship with the 33-year-old alternate captain, made clear after the victory just how difficult the decision was in an impassioned two-minute speech:

BACK TO BEANTOWN: KREIDER, RANGERS AVOID ELIMINATION WITH 4-3 OT WIN
 
“I think it’s important to spend a couple of minutes on that, out of respect for Brad,” Tortorella began. “By no means is this a situation when I take him out that I’m blaming him. I’m playing Brad on the fourth line (since Game 6 against Washington). He’s playing seven or eight minutes; it’s not good for him. It doesn’t work playing Brad Richards that way. But I also feel some other guys have played better, so that’s where he is right now in our lineup. It just doesn’t work for him.
 

Rangers injured forward Darroll Powe, a top penalty killer, skated Tuesday morning at the Garden for the third time as he rehabilitates from his second concussion of the season.
 
“It’s been a few days of skating, and I’ve felt pretty good,” Powe said. “I’m just trying to get back in the lineup as soon as I can … It’s always you’ve got to be ready to play and ready to contribute when you do come back, and that’s what I’m trying to get to right now.”
 
Powe, 27, has not played since Joel Ward’s inadvertent elbow caught him in the head in Game 3 of the first round against the Washington Capitals. Powe also missed three regular-season games after sustaining a concussion on Feb. 17 on a collision with Caps forward Matt Hendricks.
 
BONDY: TORTS STAYS POSITIVE, BUT RANGERS REMAIN ON THIN ICE

He has never dealt with multiple concussions in a season and is visibly frustrated that his recent injury kept him away from the team for a time and still out of the lineup. He returned to the ice on Saturday morning in Boston.
 
Defenseman Marc Staal (right eye), who has played just once since sustaining a right injury on March 5, resumed skating on Friday in Boston and continued on the ice Tuesday morning. But Staal did not speak with reporters.
 
Injured forward Ryane Clowe (likely concussion, second of the season, as well) has not been skating nor seen around the team.
 
DAN STILL THE MAN
John Tortorella expressed unwavering confidence Tuesday morning in top-pair defenseman Dan Girardi, saying there was no need to counsel the former All-Star after his minus-four performance in Game 2.