The Rangers are in Toronto on Tuesday kicking off a four-game road trip. New York comes in having lost two straight 3-2 contests breaking a three-game win streak. Toronto is basically playing out the string, having fallen on hard times after a solid start to the year. For New York, while this isn't a must win, it's a should win and if they don't....you can fill in the blank.
New York entered the game with a pair of struggling wingers in Mats Zuccarello and Martin St. Louis. While Zucc has just one goal in his last 14 games and two in his last 24, he does have assists in his last five games. The eight goals and 21 assists he has this season are way below ours and his own expectations for him, but despite the struggles to score, he has been engaged throughout and his usual feisty self on the ice. It's possible that Zucc's pending unrestricted free agent status is affecting him more than we know, but to me, it's been more his lack of shots and willingness to pass one up rather than his UFA status that has impacted his game. It's almost become a shoot the puck Barry refrain all over again at MSG.
Similarly, St. Louis, the other diminutive winger on the team, has had a nightmarish campaign by all accounts. The free agency status shouldn't be affecting him, but it's possible it is. However, regardless of the reason, unlike Zucc, who remains engaged, St. Louis has looked invisible all too frequently on the ice. That was more than evident Sunday when coach Alain Vigneualt scratched his line. MSL does blow hot-and-cold but right now, he is in the Arctic Circle with no signs of thawing.
With Jesper Fast out 2-3 weeks with his praised right knee, the Rangers’ lines remain the same as Sunday. This means that Tanner Glass and Lee Stempniak are both on the ice with New York deciding not to call up any replacements. The Rangers get a look tonight at Mike Santorelli,Moho many of us believe would be a perfect fit as a center or wing on the third or fourth line, given the faceoff and depth issues faced by the Blueshirts.
Rick Nash-Derek Stepan-Marty St. Louis Chris Kreider-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello Carl Hagelin-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller Tanner Glass-Dominic Moore-Lee Stempniak
On defense, the rotating door that is the sixth d-man has spun back to John Moore tonight with Matt Hunwick scratched. Maybe they are showcasing Moore, but unless you are getting a big upgrade at forward or on defense, it seems silly to deal Moore and his upside. At practice today, the defensemen rotated through line drills so it unclear whether Marc Staal will start paired with Kevin Klein or Dan Boyle. Personally, leave Boyle, who has been horrific lately, on the third line with Staal paired with Klein on the second,
As reported by Pat Leonard, the power play units at practice has it was St. Louis-Boyle on the points with Nash-Brassard-Stepan and McDonagh-Girardi on the points with Kreider-Hayes-Zuccarello. Of course, why bother having Moore or Klein on the points, as it's so much better - sarcasm dripping - to have Girardi there. Plus, Boyle has shown little, so why not have McD on the top unit with Moore on the second or vice versa.