The Rangers begin a back-to-back Friday against the Bruins to complete their five-game road trip. They turn right around to face their former coach, John Tortorella, in a matinee at MSG on Saturday. Both games have importance for different reasons, beyond just attempting to get a win in each.
The match-up against Boston, who lead the Atlantic Division by one point over Tampa Bay, is the second between the two teams for the year and within the past two weeks. In the first, New York outplayed Boston everywhere but the scoreboard, as they dropped a 2-1 decision on November 19. In that game, the same old bug-a-boo that has played New York all season reared its ugly head - an inability to finish - despite the return of Rick Nash, who was in the lineup for the first time since Game 3.
Saturday, the Rangers head back to TD Garden, site of where they bowed out in the playoffs last season. The Blueshirts are 3-1 on the current road trip, rebounding from a 5-0 whitewash by the Lightning to beat the Panthers 5-2, despite getting outplayed for much of the contest. Boston comes into the game 7-2-1 in their last 10, sparked by the fine play of Torey Krug, last year's series hero against the Rangers, and backstopped by Tuukka Rask. Unlike last year, Carl Soderberg and Reilly Smith have provided the Bs surprising offense to buffet what they they already get from David Krejci and Milan Lucic. On the flip side, both Patrice Bergeron (no points last six) and Brad Marchand (two goals in November) have been disappointments, but Bergeron usually finds a way to win a key faceoff while Marchand agitates as only he can when they face the Rangers.
Lines:
Forwards: Carl Hagelin-Brad Richards-Rick Nash Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello Benoit Pouliot-Derick Brassard-Ryan Callahan Brian Boyle-Dominic Moore-Taylor Pyatt
The lines may be slightly tweaked for the contest. If Derek Dorsett's wrist, which forced to miss the game against Florida, is good enough, the Rangers could use his size against a physical Boston squad. Look for him to play and Benoit Pouliot to sit, as the fourth line was very good versus the Panthers. If that happens, Pyatt could move up to LW on the third line with Dorsett replacing him on the fourth. I have some speculation that maybe Brian Boyle could be the odd-man out, but I would sit Pouliot before Boyle.
Defensemen: Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi Marc Staal-Anton Stralman John Moore-Justin Falk
With Boston a physical team, I expect Falk, despite his so-so game Wednesday, to stay in the lineup with Michael Del Zotto scratched again. How long before we see #freeortrademdz on twitter?
Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist
Lundqvist is back between the pipes, for the 29th straight time in the regular season and 15th straight in Boston. In addition, as Larry Brooks points out, his 9-4-1 mark with a 1.43 GAA and .954 save percentage in Boston likely carried a lot of weight in the decision. As of now, Cam Talbot, who has yet to play on home ice, expected to face Torts and the Canucks on Saturday. However, as Pat Leonard points out, even though he has yet to be used in both ends of a back-to-back this season, Hank could get the nod Saturday in what should be an emotionally charged match-up. Plus, couldn't you see him asking AV to allow him to start against his former coach?
PP first unit: Nash-Richards-Callahan, Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
PP second unit: Kreider-Stepan-Brassard, John Moore-Mats Zuccarello
Two PPG in three chances on Wednesday means that these groupings stay intact.
In this game, if the Rangers can find a way to play as they did when the team met earlier this month, you have to figure that they find a way to beat Rask enough to win the contest.
I won't be able to get a blog up after today's or before tomorrow's game, so i will have a brief preview below. If something major hapor happens during Friday's game, before about 4PM, I will update the blog.
Saturday should be a fun game at MSG for the return of John Tortorella. Will Torts ignore Larry Brooks for old times sake? Will he tell Pat Leonard to stop coaching? Vancouver comes in struggling, going 3-3-4 in their last 10 but off a solid win against Ottawa. We all know about the Sedins and Ryan Kesler, the Canucks' version of Ryan Callahan in terms of style of play and importance to Torts' system, but there are others to look out for.
Jason Garrison and Mike Santorelli each got off to big starts and each fell back to earth. Now, bothr are starting to put it back together. Garrison helps the Canucks' PP with his hard shot, making up for the subpar play of Alexander Edler and Kevin Bieksa. Up front, Santoprelli and former Ranger, Chris Higgins, balance out the lines, providing support for the Twins and making for the lack of production from Alexandre Burrows and David Booth.
It's Rangers vs. Canucks but we all know that much of the focus will be on Vigneault vs. Tortorella, as the former coaches of each team battle one another. Of course, the key is to just get a win but before, during and after the contest it will be a comparison of styles to see how each coach's new team have either adapted to or struggle with the change from the prior coach.
Let's Go Rangers!!!