The Rangers head to Dallas attempting to extend their season-long win streak to nine games. New York comes in fresh off a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Devils while the Stars defeated St. Louis 4-3 on Saturday. Dallas is 6-4 in their last 10, 5-1 in their last six and 6-7-5 at home, while the Rangers, thanks to the win streak, are now 7-5-1 away from MSG.
Another day, another forward rotation. Tonight, it's Jesper Fast sitting for the first time since November 21 against Buffalo, a span of 15 games. J.T. Miller, who sat Saturday is back in, along with Lee Stempniak and everyone's favorite whipping boy, Tanner Glass. Adam Herman (adamherman_BSB) tweeted out a bunch of Glass stats, none of which were pretty. But it looks like all the hand-wrinkling and complaining we do about it will mean little. Hopefully AV eventually comes to his senses and makes the right call.
i really loved what Rick Nash said today. Attitude like that is great, shows he isn't resting on the laurels of scoring 23 goals. In addition, how he still believes there is more room for him to grow. the below is taken from the Blueshirts Blog in the NY Daily News.
“It’s funny,… Nash said after the morning skate at American Airlines Center. “I was watching video of this season, and my complete game is not what it was last year. There’s so much more I can do in a lot of different areas, and sometimes I can’t pinpoint why the pucks go in.…
Line combinations: Nash - Brassard - Zuccarello Kreider - Stepan - St. Louis Hagelin - Hayes - Stempniak Glass - D. Moore - Miller
McDonagh-Girardi Boyle-Staal J. Moore-Klein Power Play Nash - Brassard - St. Louis -Stepan - Boyle Kreider - Miller - Zuccarello McDonagh - Girardi
Last, great job by some NYR Prospects in the WJC yesterday. Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and two assists. Igor Shestyorkin made 32 saves in a shutout of Switzerland, aided by two posts in the last minute. Brandon Halverson had an easier time of it, as he wasn't really tested in making 14 saves in pitching a shutout against Germany.
For Dallas, it begins and ends with Tyler Sequin and Jamie Benn. Jason Spezza has not produced as expected when the Stars brought him in. Kari Lehtonen leads the league with 83 goals allowed, but he has shown the ability to come up big when needed. The Stars d as a whole have struggled, allowing 116 goals on the year, second worst in the league behind Edmonton, so the Rangers should be able to use their speed to take advantage of a so-so blue line.
I will be in-and-out, depending on how well the flu medicine kicks in.