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Game 27:NYR-VAN, Rangers Kickoff Three-Game Canada Swing Saturday

December 13, 2014, 6:04 PM ET [51 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Rangers kick off a three-game Canadian swing Saturday in Vancouver. New York comes in off a 4-3 overtime win over the Penguins way back on Monday night while Vancouver has been off since Tuesday, when they fell 3-1 to Montreal. That contest ended a seven-game, 15-day road trip for the Canucks, who went 0-2-1 in their final three contests. New York is 12-10-4, including 3-5-1 on the road, which is where they excelled last season going 25-14-2 while Vancouver is 18-9-2, including 7-3-1 at home.

The game marks a return to Vancouver for coach Alain Vigneault. In addition, it marks the first game against his former teammates for Derek Dorsett, who was traded this off-seaosn to the Canucks to free up cap room and for a third-round pick. Congrats to Dorsett, who welcomed his son into the world Friday. You know my view on Dorsett, as I thought he was a huge part of the fourth line that helped drive the Rangers run to the Cup Finals last year and has struggled much of this season.

For all the hand-wringing over whether Chris Kreider would be in the lineup, that was answered today as Tanner Glass will be the healthy scratch over CK20. For Glass, he misses out on chance in playing in front of his former home crowd. But this move makes sense. It remains to be seen if Kreider or Lee Stempniak plays/remains on the fourth line, where Kreider skated Friday, but below would be the lines if up to me. However, expect Kreider to start out in the bottom trio on Saturday.

Nash-Brassard-Zucc
Miller-Stepan-St. Louis
Hagelin-Hayes-Kreider
Fast-D. Moore-Stempniak

On D, Matt Hunwick will be scratched again with John Moore in the lineup again. Between the pipes, it will be Henrik Lundqvist tonight. I could see Cam Talbot playing tomorrow as New York plays again Tuesday. However, if Lundqvist has a very strong game tonight. don't be shocked if AV puts him between the pipes again tomorrow, even though it would be a back-to-back.

McDonagh - Girardi
Staal - Boyle
J. Moore - Klein

Lundqvist

For Vancouver, with Dorsett and Shawn Matthias in the lineup, the lines should be:

D. Sedin-H. Sedin-Hansen
A. Burrows-Bonino-Vrbata
Matthias-Richardson-Vey
Higgins-Horvat-Dorsett

Edler-Tanev
Sbisa-Bieksa
Stanton-Weber

Miller

New York needs to build off Monday's win or the good feelings from it will totally dissipate. The team has been consistently inconsistent. The road would be the perfect place for them to find their game. It will not be easy, but a win over the Canucks, on heels - albeit five days later - would go a long way to possibly resulting in an extend win streak, something that has been lacking all season.
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