We are potentially looking at the first round matchup in April as the Rangers take on the Islanders at Barclays tonight. Both team are tied with 23 wins and 51 points with the Rangers having a game in hand.
Most Isles fans came off the ledge after Tuesday's 5-2 win over the hapless Columbus Blue Jackets and their AHL goaltender. We have all criticized Jack Capuano. But I have to give him credit for moving Brock Nelson back to his natural position of center. As a result Nelson scored his first career hat trick and now leads the team with 17 goals. The 30th overall pick of the 2010 draft has one of, if not the best wrist shots on the team and has been shooting the puck as of late. When you shoot the puck, good things happens. When you crash the net, good things happens. Ryan Strome scored his first goal in 17 games when he redirected Matt Martin's shot and then poked it past Anton Forsberg for the 1-0 lead.
The Islanders defeated the Rangers 2-1 in a shootout back on December 2nd. Tonight will prove to be difficult with Johnny Boychuk and Travis Hamonic out of the lineup. Cappy will use the same defensive pairings as Tuesday. Jaroslav Halak will get the start tonight. Halak hasn't played well since returning from the IR. He does own the Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist. Jaro is 7-0 all-time and 4-0 with the Islanders against Hank.
Projected Forward lines Grabovski-Tavares-Strome Kulemin-Nielsen-Okposo Lee-Nelson-Bailey Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
Defensive Pairings Leddy-de Haan Hickey-Zidlicky Pelech-Strait
I'll leave you with this Isles fans, would you rather defeated the Rangers in the first round or lose against the Rangers and have Cappy fired?