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Match-up - New York Rangers (3-3-0) @ New Jersey Devils (3-2-0)
Road/Home records - 1-1-0 -------------- 0-1-0
TV - MSG, MSG Plus
Puck drop - 7:00 p.m. ET
Projected starting goalies - Henrik Lundqvist vs Cory Schneider
Projected lines for the Rangers via DailyFaceoff:
Chris Kreider - Kevin Hayes - Rick Nash
Mats Zuccarello - Derick Brassard - Martin St. Louis
Carl Hagelin - Dominic Moore - Lee Stempniak
Ryan Malone - Chris Mueller - Tanner Glass
Marc Staal - Ryan McDonagh
Mike Kostka - Kevin Klein
John Moore - Matt Hunwick
Injured: Derek Stepan, Dan Boyle, Dan Girardi.
Projected lines for the Devils:
Dainius Zubrus - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr
Mike Cammalleri - Patrik Elias - Martin Havlat
Ryane Clowe - Adam Henrique - Michael Ryder
Damien Brunner - Stephen Gionta - Jordin Tootoo
Andy Greene - Damon Severson
Bryce Salvador - Marek Zidlicky
Jon Merrill - Adam Larsson
Expected scratches: Jacob Josefson, Tuomo Ruutu, Eric Gelinas.
Game notes:
- Adam Larsson will be making his season debut after sitting the first five games of the season. He's a right handed defenseman and will be playing on his natural side so perhaps he'll work better with Merrill than Gelinas did as two left-handed defensemen. Larsson will have to be good if he wants to remain in the lineup.
- In an effort to get the 4th line going, Pete DeBoer has made some changes. While I like the decision to put Brunner in the lineup, it should have come at the expense of Jordin Tootoo rather than Ruutu.
- Dainius Zubrus and Mike Cammalleri swapped spots to try and get all the lines going offensively. Cammalleri had previously recorded five goals and seven points on five games playing with Travis Zajac and Jaromir Jagr, so if the switch doesn't get results early I expect the Devils to go back to that.
- After a brutal start to the year Henrik Lundqvist has found his usual form. In his last two games he's allowed just one goal stopping 62-63 (.984SV%) in wins over Carolina and San Jose. The Devils will need to get a lot of pucks and bodies to the net because if Lundqvist sees it he'll probably stop it.
- Rick Nash has seven goals and eight points in six games thus far. Goal scorers are often streaky and Nash is obviously feeling good about himself right now so the Devils will need to play him tight. Andy Greene and Damon Severson will have their hands full.
- The Rangers' power play hasn't converted yet this season and that'll probably change sooner than later. If New Jersey continues taking penalties like they have been that streak will probably end tonight.
- With the injuries to Dan Girardi and Dan Boyle the Rangers' defense is really shallow. New Jersey should be able to cycle well and really make them work down low. If they can do that they'll generate plenty of good scoring chances.
Recent posts
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Stanley Cup predictions
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