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Game 47: Rangers @ Kings- Things to Watch |
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The Los Angeles Kings come back to the Staples Center tonight as the New York Rangers come to town for their annual California road trip.
This will be the second time the two team face each other where the Rangers got the better of the Kings back on Dec. 15 by a 4-2 score.
Both teams are in the midst of a hot and heavy playoff chase with both fighting for a Wild Card spot. The Kings are in the middle of a six game losing streak which saw them lose their divisional playoff lead to the San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames, leading the Kings by three and two points respectively.
As well, the Colorado Avalanche have come from nowhere with a nine game winning streak to pass the Kings in the Wild Card hunt and tie the Minnesota Wild for that final spot. The Kings are currently tied with the Anaheim Ducks, just out of the playoff picture.
In the Rangers’ Metropolitan Division, it is a very similar situation. The Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and Columbus Blue Jackets currently have the divisional playoff spots. Right now there is a battle amongst five Metropolitan division teams for the two Wild Card spots with all of them being separated by three points.
Currently, the Rangers are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first Wild Card spot with two games in hand, and are two points back of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the third spot in the Metropolitan.
Unfortunately for the Kings, the Rangers were not able to cool down the red hot Avalanche yesterday afternoon as they lost 3-1 in Colorado. Due to it being a back-to-back situation for the Rangers, it is possible they will start backup Ondrej Pavelec instead of the rock steady Henrik Lundqvist.
Pavelec’s main duty for the Rangers is to make sure Lundqvist is not out of gas before the playoffs. So far this year, Pavelec has a 3-6-1 record with a 2.97 GAA and .915 save percentage.
If it is Lundqvist tonight, he hasn’t been the same goalie that he was earlier in his career, but he’s still a top third goalie in the league. The 35-year-old has a 21-12-4 record with a 2.54 GAA and .925 save percentage this season.
After this game the Kings have a back-to-back on the road in Vancouver and Calgary. It is important to get points where they can as every Western Conference opponent is a threat.
Three Things to Watch:
1. Goaltending: Jonathan Quick was very good on Friday night against the Ducks where he stopped 29 of 31 shots. The two goals that went in he couldn’t be faulted as the first one he was bowled over legally, and the second one was a perfect tip by Ryan Kesler. Prior to Friday’s game, he has been a bit suspect allowing long goals outside the faceoff circle on the right wing. In order for the Kings to be successful he has to be the player we all know he is.
2. Aggressive Forecheck: The Rangers defense unit isn’t what it used to be. Back when they were Stanley Cup contenders, it was completely based on their solid defensive strength. It is led by their captain, Ryan McDonagh, but once you get past him it is either young or the skill set drops dramatically. With Marc Staal and Keven Shattenkirk out for the Rangers, it is important to put as much pressure as possible on that defense core to get them to make a mistake.
3. Improved Specialty Teams: Unlike the Kings and Ducks who have a strong penalty kill and a weak power play, the Rangers have the fourth best penalty kill and are top 11 in the NHL on the power play. The Kings are a physical team but it is important to stay out of the box because the Rangers can burn you.
Also, one of the things John Stevens said after the Ducks game is that the Kings need to use their power play as a source of momentum in the offensive end. Regardless if LA scores on it, they can’t let the momentum turn the other way just because the Rangers kill the penalty. They have to keep the foot on the gas.
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • 
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