The Rangers look to hold serve again and take a 2-0 series lead over Tampa Bay on Monday evening. New York played an excellent game Saturday in winning 2-0 in a contest that Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said “made him want to vomit,… when he reviewed the video the next day. Here’s hoping further regurgitation is on the menu for tomorrow’s film session.
The big news for today is that Mats Zuccarello skated lightly for 15 minutes on his today for the first time since suffering the suspected concussion in Game 5 against Pittsburgh. Today’s skate is the next step in his recovery progression, following on the off-ice workouts that started last week. Presuming he has no ill-effects from today’s skate, activity will get ramped up, moving to non-contact practice then to practicing with contact and then ultimately a return to the lineup. The outside hope is that Zucc could be ready later in the series, depending on how far it goes, but that will be determined how he reacts to each stage of the process.
Tonight’s lineup will be the same as Game 1, meaning that the Big Boy line of Hayes and Nash flanking Brassard is together again while MSL skates with Hagelin and Moore. Tanner Glass, who did not practice Sunday, will play as he did in Game 1 with Sheppard and Miller. The defense, which was so good Saturday on both ends of the ice, will also have the same duos.
As I wrote yesterday, the playoffs are about adjustments. Interestingly, as of now, Jon Cooper does not seem to be planning any lineup or combination changes. Brian Boyle, out for Game 1 with an “undisclosed illness… looks to be out again tonight. What we will see if better focus and increased physical play from the Lightning in an attempt to slow down New York as they did to Tampa on Saturday.
The mantra for New York in the playoffs has been #changetheending. That is meant for if the team reaches the Cup Finals, reversing last year’s result. The same can apply tonight. Since the start of 2012 postseason, New York is 2-9 in Game 2s, including 1-6 when leading a series 1-0. That ne win came last year in the ECF when they defeated Montreal. The other win was against Washington when down 1-0 in the series. Tonight, the goal is #changetheending, especially at home, by winning to go up 2-0 over Tampa Bay.