New York returns home tonight after their disappointing road trip to face the Panthers. Florida is 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and lead the Atlantic Division by two points over Tampa Bay. The Rangers are 4-4-2 in their last 10 contests and are now tied with Pittsburgh at 88 points, though the Penguins have the tie-breaker are second in the Metro.
We all expected line shifting and that's what we got. The Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello pairing is no more, done in by poor production and defensive lapses. The only trio that remains intact is the fourth line, which was the team's best line Saturday against San Jose, thought that really isn't saying much.
Nash-Brass-Fast Kreider-Stepan-Zucc Miller-EStaal-Hayes Glass-Moore-Stalberg;
Fast has played well regardless of which line he has been on. He is not a true top-six winger but his grit and defensive conscience fits well alongside Brassard. I might have gone with Miller there, as he possesses similar skills but is better offensively. If the change gets Nash going, I am all for it. Stepan has a huge burden as he has two subpar defensive players, though at least Kreider has been better lately, showing some effort to at least get back into plays. Personally, I would shift Staal and Hayes, allowing Hayes to be the pivot, where he is more conformable. Plus, when does #freeLindberg catch on?
McDonagh-Klein Yandle-Girardi MStaal-Boyle
The top duo is the same its been. Interesting having G, the embarrassment of the Rangers, as he was referred to today, with Yandle. I don't know if G has the foot speed to recover of Yandle gets caught pinching. But Staal hasn't been great as well and Boyle can't play there. The good news is that Dylan McIlrath started skating when NY was away and he was in a non-contact jersey today. McIlrath is likely a week or so away. What annoys me is that by 3/31, he will have missed 10 games and 24 days, allowing him to be placed on LTIR, freeing up room for Brady Skjei or Raphael Diaz. So why hasn't that move been made?
Calling Girardi an embarrassment to the Rangers is a classless move. There is no question he hasn't played well and isn't truly earning his high salary. He would be the first to admit he has struggled. In addition, he has taken heaps of abuse on - by blocking shots and sacrificing his body - and off the ice - as seen by the term used for him, which in this case is really piling on. If you want to say his contract is embarrassment, that's fine, or his play has been subpar, accurate as well, but to use the headline that Girardi is an embarrassment to the Rangers, that's totally de classe.
The Rangers have 10 games left, seven of which are at home. Following Florida tonight, it's Boston at home on Wednesday. A road game in Montreal is on tap Saturday followed by a home game against Pittsburgh the next day. Three days off have NY facing Carolina on the road on March 31 and then Buffalo on home on April 2. The final week shows NY in Columbus on Monday, April 4 and then at home the next day against Tampa Bay with Antti Raanta slated to play one of the two games in the back-to-backs, likely March 26 against Montreal and the contests against Columbus. The last two games are a home contest Thursday April 7 against the Isles and Detroit at home on April 9.
The push for the playoffs kicks into overdrive with nothing guaranteed, including a berth or divisional spot. Win tonight, then look at the scoreboard. Lather, rinse, repeat for each game. Play like the team that was in place earlier in the season and during the late-January into early-February hot streak.