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Game 18: NYR-EDM, Hello McDavid, Rangers finish 13 of first 18 games at MSG |
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The Rangers take on the Oilers at MSG on Saturday afternoon. Edmonton won the first two legs of the metro area trip, defeating the Isles 2-1 in overtime and Devils yesterday 3-2 also in overtime. The Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl duo is lethal and with the final change, coach Alain Vigneault must make sure the right matchup is on the ice against them as much as possible.
With five straight wins, the Rangers are finally over .500 for the season. That uprising coincides with AV reuniting the Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich trio. That grouping, who started 2016-17 together, before getting broken apart, the same happening this year, should continue to remain as the team's top line, seeing how they complement one another. Shayna Goldman wrote a really good piece on it (https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/2017/11/10/16632238/lets-talk-about-kzb).
If Boo Nieves is finally over his flu/food poisoning and ready to go, who sits? Before last game, whispers were that it could be Jimmy Vesey, but after a pair of goals in 29 seconds versus Boston, that's unlikely. The two primary candidates are David Desharnais and Paul Carey. But as i wrote the other day, who then is the third line center? Would it be whichever one doesn't sit? If Carey sits, that makes sense as Desh has played on that line pretty much all year. But if Desh sits, can you trust Carey or Nieves in that role? I reiterate that I prefer J.T. Miller on the wing, so he shouldn't be moved. Vinny Lettieri could get a look see but this is currently the primary area of need and one that GM Jeff Gorton needs to upgrade. Either that or 2c, if Kevin Hayes slides down a line, which is that is the route New York goes, could Filip Chytil, who has eight points in nine games at hartford, be the answer later in the year if he stays hot and continues to develop?
On defense, I think we all believe Ryan McDonagh is playing through an injury, because to imagine these wide swings in play in each game without an injury raises even more concerns. McDonagh and Kevin Shattenkirk struggled as a pairing, resulting in a break up of the dup. What arose from that is a solid dup of Shattenkirk and Brady Skjei, who continues to take the nest step before us. I know you guys aren't advanced stats lovers, but this is a good piece on that dup and the other combinations so far this year: http://againimrightinmyanalysis.com/posts/2017/11/7/mcdonagh-and-shattenkirk-partners-friends.
If finding a second or third center is primary point one, finding a pair mate for McDonagh and also the return to form of Brendan Smith is 2a and 2b. McDonagh and Nick Holden scares the living tar out of me at times, as seen the other night against Boston. But if you believe the advanced stats, McD and Smith were worse together, but a lot of that may be due to just how bad Smith has been. Don LaGreca on his Game Misconduct podcast said that Smith came to camp out of shape and is working his way back. We had heard whispers about this but nothing confirmed. Don't expect AV to tackle this if brought, as coach-speak will be used instead here. How or why in this day and age that happens is beyond me, but this is where we are and why he likely is sitting now. If he can get back in shape before too long, maybe that duo is tried again. If not, McD-Marc Staal may be tried again, same with McD-'Kirk, if no other option arises, likely meaning that we see Skjei-Smith combined again.
New York is wrapping up one of the tougher stretches of their schedule. The comeback win over Las Vegas, strong team performance in victory over Tampa and resiliency versus Florida Saturday got it off to a good beginning. Monday’s win over Columbus continued the hot streak, which was extended Wednesday at home against Boston and then hopefully continues at MSG on Saturday versus Edmonton. Following Saturday game, which marks 13 home contestst in the first 18 matches of the season, it’s road contests versus Chicago and Columbus.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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