The Rangers head to Washington to kick off a four game road trip against the Capitals. The Rangers come in off a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Senators on Friday while Washington lost 5-2 to the Islanders. New York is just 3-4-1 on the road, scoring 13 goals while allowing 19. Washington is 7-5 at home and 6-4 in their last 10. After today's game, the Rangers will be at the mid-point of their season, as of now, they sit in eighth, one point behind seventh with a game in hand. A win Friday, would have tied them with Ottawa for sixth, with two games in hand on the Senators.

Great comments on the Senators' game as usual, touching on a few here:

"Apparently Torts is breaking up the Hags-Step-Nash line. Definitely not a fan. Much rather would've seen Richards between Gaborik and Callahan, I agree though, would have left Stepan with Nash and put Richards with Gaborik" (couldn't agree with you any more than I do. You have a line that's hot and appears to have built chemistry together. In addition, you are on a four-game winning streak, so why mess with that)."

"Felt Boyle has played better of late, really don't understand the decision to dress Bickel and scratch Boyle" (agreed, don't think Boyle has been great, but he is definitely better that Bickel. Could use Boyle on the PK and can play center and wing if need be. We all know he is not the player who scored 20 two years ago, or the one that was so dominant in Games 1-3 against Ottawa last year, but think he can still be a useful part on this team)

"Take the Richards hate-blinders off. That was a great shot that was perfectly placed off a one timer. Beautiful setup and beautiful goal" (first goal in 16 games. Maybe this will get him going. Having Richards play well in addition to Derek Stepan, who was flat out robbed and the game might have ended much differently had he scored in the third, would be a huge boost to the offense)

"They came out flying in this period...remember that post by MDZ and the great save by Lehner on Stepan...the Rangers have generated very little since that point .Saw this coming, the Rangers look gassed here these last few minutes. (this is where the lack of a full training camp has hurt the Rangers. They are 0-3 in the back-end of back-to-backs, after being so dominant early last year. The lack of Torts' shape and conditioning is what shows up here and hopefully they get better as the year wears on).

MDZ needs to learn to not give up on a play. So many times tonight I have seems DZ make the initial play on the puck but doesn't stay with it. (interesting observation, have to keep an eye on that. Despite the poor play, thought he actually had a pretty good game and so did Anton Stralman)

"Two things bother me about Torts this game.

1> why not put Haley's line out there when Neil was out there? Haley will at least engage him (agreed. Neil likely went after Carl Hagelin a lot based on the Hagelin hit on Alfredsson last year. You got Haley, who as Carp pointed out has really played well for the Rangers, taking the body - six hits Friday - blocking shots - three Friday - and also willing to stand up for teammates while not losing his edge or acting like a sideshow. He has to stay in the lineup and Torts should have put him up against Neil)

2) His stupid collapsing defense that has been exposed by every team in the league and was really exposed on that last Ottawa goal. Phillips fake windup knew he had time waits passes across to other d, who was also wide open, shot taken, rebound left....goal. All 5 rangers were in the slot. Left silverberg wide open along the wall and he came in untouched to scoop up the rebound" (this is the Rangers' style, get used to it, it's not changing. Plus, players have to be smart when they go down, I have seen Nash, Girardi etc. get burned when they go down, but have to also try and be smart and not go down so early. Live by the blocked shot, die by the attempted block shot at times, part of the game).

"Need third line production - Bickel, Halpern, Boyle, Asham, Powe, have combined for 3 points this year...I am o.k. with a Zuccarello signing, but I kind of agree with you. I don't mind it for depth, but I would prefer they acquire someone else that would fit that 3rd line spot better. Zucarello, Pyatt and Miller just seems like a mismatch to me, and I really think be years end, the Top 6 will be the consistent top 6... Go get another big guy that bang and score a little and put him on the flank with Miller." (no question here on needing more production from the third line. Hopefully Chris Kreider comes up eventually and helps there. Same with JT Miller, who wihile doing the little things, is in a major scoring slump. I would love Vaclav Prospal, though as mentioned, he likely won't be dealt as he has a probable spot within the Columbus organization when he retires. I and also like to see Mats Zuccarello back here, especially since each could help the PP, and don't the fit will be that much of an issue as he can also slide up a line if needed while they need his offensive creativity. Magnus Paajarvi portrays as a third line and has some upside, but he too hasn't delivered on that, so mildly wary of trying to get him).

"They need a stay at home d-man who knows how to use the body." (I think we would all love Doug Murray, but don't know if he will be available. Ron Hainsey, as discussed, would also be nice. They have needed for a while, since Michael Sauer went down, a physical d-man. Especially with Marc Staal, this is a pretty big need, and while I like Roman Hamrlik, more on him later, they still need a tough d-man, who can take the body and clear the crease)

"They also need a coach who knows how to adjust on the fly. One that recognizes that Chris Neil is out there and doesnt put Nash,Gabby and Richards out. Neil sees fresh meat in those cases. Haley should have been out there.... I still think a coaching change is needed despite coming off a 4 game winning streak. None convincing enough for me to believe this team has turned any corners. Except for the Philly game. I know all of you disagree with firing Torts but his system on both sides of the puck does not suit this team any longer" (have already made my view on this well-known, don't garee with getting rid him. I agree with some of the points made and he should adjust better during the game, but don't think he should be fired)"

"Rangers need to do to the Caps what Ottawa did to them. Second half of back to backs, got to make them work. Bring the high energy" (agreed, can't keep falling behind in games. Even during the winning streak, they fell behind and it's a pattern they need to rectify quickly)

"I don't think Hamrlik is a failure already. He didn't look out of place at all vs the Islanders, playing 15 minutes, but clearly had nothing in the 7 minutes he played vs Ottawa and definitely has some work to do to get into game shape. Torts should have realized that about Hamrlik's conditioning's level and should not have played him back to back nights. Gilroy should have played vs Ottawa." (agreed. Torts should have played Gilroy especially after using Hamrlik so much in game one. Hamrlik agrees he needs to be in better shape, but he didn't play 16 of 20 games in Washington, so that's expected. Torts is sitting Hamrlik today, though would have liked to see him against his previous team and I expect Hamrlik to be a solid 5/6 d-man for the team the rest of the way)

"According to Bruce Garrioch in the Ottawa Sun, the Blue Jackets are offering up Brandon Dubinsky around the league. New Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen thinks that Dubinsky is making too much money and Kekalainen inherited Dubinsky from previous GM Scott Howson" (jimbo and I were the two biggest Dubinsky fans, and while we all agree we miss his jam and passion, that ship has sailed. The $4.2 million per year cap hit is too much. Now, per the new CBA, teams can assume cap room up to 50% of the deal. With that the case, if the Rangers could get him at a decent price, there is your third line player, albeit one whose offese is suspect now and also dealing with a knee injury, but an intriguing thought if some cap room could be part of the equation. What also has to be considered is that Columbus will be a division rival, which might impact their desire to trade Dubinsky to NY and would the Rangers want to bring him in again?)"

Washington will have Braden Holtby in net after playing Philipp Grubauer in net Saturday. Grabauer went sent back down to the AHL, as Michal Neuvirth is healthy enough to be the backup. Alexander Ovechkin is inching closer to his dominant form of a year ago, while Mike Ribeiro, who has been a godsend to the Caps, has provided the team an excellent second center behind Nicklas Backstrom. The team hasn't revealed their lineups, but it's possible that Marcus Johansson is able to play today, along with John Erskine, who was banged up yesterday.

RANGERS (Richards obviously back, no Asham and Staal again, Bickel and Hamrlik (confirmed) scratches)

62 Carl Hagelin - 19 Brad Richards - 61 Rick Nash
10 Marian Gaborik - 21 Derek Stepan - 24 Ryan Callahan
14 Taylor Pyatt - 47 J.T. Miller - 8 Darroll Powe
32 Michael Haley - 15 Jeff Halpern - 22 Brian Boyle

27 Ryan McDonagh - 7 Dan Girardi
4 Michael Del Zotto - 6 Anton Strålman
97 Matt Gilroy - 44 Steve Eminger

43 Martin Biron
[30 Henrik Lundqvist]

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