The Rangers have started slow with a 1-3-0 record, Henrik Lundqvist has an uncharacteristic .898 save percentage, which includes a 34 save shutout over the Montreal Canadiens. He is still one of the best goalies in the league, so the Blue Jackets cannot take him lightly, they will need to play well and capitalize on their opportunities. Lundqvist will be opposed by Sergei Bobrovsky. Bob has been Bob to start the year stopping 67 of 68 shots in his first two starts. With this game being the first of a back to back, it looks like Joonas Korpisalo will get the start tomorrow night in Minnesota.
If early season trends continue this should be a low scoring, goalie dominated game. Both teams have had issues scoring, the Rangers have just 10 goals in four games, and the Jackets have eight in three. For the Jackets they need to get that top line going, which should just be a matter of time. The Rangers have got to find a way to Rick Nash going, he has been held pointless so far this season. Don’t expect it to come against his former team however. In 14 games against the Jackets, Nash has just four goals and one assist. His 0.36 points per game rate is his lowest against any opponent by a significant margin. He has averaged at least half a point per game against every other team in his career.
The Jackets have made a small line-up change for this game, putting Zac Dalpe in for Markus Hannikainen. John Tortorella stressed in the media scrum that the play in the Carolina game had nothing to do with the decision. What else is Tortorella supposed to say in this situation, regardless of how he really feels he can’t call out his player publicly like that, if Hannikainen was playing better and doesn’t make that play he very likely still in the line-up.
This is a good chance to get Dalpe back in there and see what he can do. The Jackets have activated Jordan Schroeder from the IR and assigned him to Cleveland for a conditioning stint. The Jackets have to make a decision here shortly, do they want to keep Dalpe or Hannikainen around once he returns. Dalpe needs to be placed on waivers to be sent down and Hannikainen does not. If Dalpe plays well that should give him the inside edge to stay with the big club.
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