The Rangers, fresh off their 4-3 shootout win over the Flames, take a step up in class, facing the Metro division leading Penguins. Like New York, Pittsburgh has had a rash of injuries and still continue to deal with them, with their top-four defense - Letang, Martin, Orpik, Scuderi - still sidelined. Despite those absences, as well as the current suspension of James Neal and recent injury to Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins continue to roll, having won four straight, nine of their last 10 and have a 16-point bulge on the Rangers.
The Rangers went with an 11-forward, seven-defensemen look against the Flames. Coach Alain Vigneault wasn't enamored by that lineup configuration and how they performed against Calgary, so it looks like he will go back to the tradition configuration versus the Penguins. The open decisions are if Taylor Pyatt or Benoit Pouliot plays, but based on Vigneault's comments Tuesday, in which he stated he felt Pouliot has played well in four of his last five games, look for Pouliot to play and Pyatt to sit. On the blue line, the question is Justin Falk or Dylan McIlrath for the third pairing. Falk was paired with Pyatt at the start of line rushes as an extra defense pair, it’s looking like Falk will be a healthy scratch though it's still possible McIlrath sits.
Likely lines/defense pairs:
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash Brad Richards-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello Carl Hagelin-Dominic Moore-Derek Dorsett Benoit Pouliot-Brian Boyle-Arron Asham
Ryan McDonagh-Anton Stralman Michael Del Zotto-Dan Girardi John Moore-Dylan McIlrath
Henrik Lundqvist
Lundqvist, making seventh straight start Wednesday, ties Ed Giacomin tonight for 3rd on the Rangers' goalie list with 538th game for the team. Mike Richter (666) played the most.
A few notes:
- Due to the aforementioned injuries for Pittsburgh, Rangers assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson’s son, Philip, got the call-up for his NHL debut for the Penguins on Monday. Ulf attended his son’s debut on Monday in Pittsburgh and now will coach against him on Wednesday.
- Captain Ryan Callahan is off crutches, which means he is on schedule in his rehabilitation from the second-degree sprain of the MCL in his left knee that he sustained Dec. 10 against Nashville. Callahan’s time line for a return is four to six weeks.
- Marc Staal, sidelined with a concussion, still has not begun skating. As we have discussed before, the best way to view these situations, which may sound callous, but is true, is to forget he is here and out and when he gets back he gets back.
- Probably one of the scariest stats of the year but the Rangers are trying to win two straight for the first time since Nov. 21 and 23 in Dallas and Nashville. They are 4-6-1 since, including a 1-3-1 record to open this nine-game home stand.
- Much of the conversation on the blog has been the rumored Montreal and Rangers trade discussions, mainly centering on Del Zotto to the Canadiens for Raphael Diaz and a prospect or pick. It's become pretty clear that like others before him - e.g. Dubinsky, Gaborik etc. - Del Zotto may need to go elsewhere because he is wearing out his welcome or won't reach his potential here. It's hard to walk away from a 23-year old defenseman who has shown in the past he can be a difference maker from the blue line, but either through regression or the system or both, that talent is not shining through. Personally, I want him to stay but can understand the view that he will need to go to bring a needed resource back, especially with him a RFA after the season and the salary possibly prohibitive.
Montreal has four UFA -Markov, Bouillon, Murray and Diaz - as well as a major RFA in Subban on the blue line after the season. By dealing Diaz for Del Zotto, they might be able to replace the offense they could lose if Markov departs and gives them a second PP point man to pair with Subban. Diaz had a decent first year adapting to the smaller ice surface and North American play after coming over from Switzerland. He got off to a big start last year before he was sidelined for nearly two months with a concussion. Style-wise, he would fit well into New York because he does have some offensive upside and has shown a willingness to play physical and block shots (84 through 36 games). Diaz also meets what GM Glen Sather has said he wants in a return for MFZ, that is a RH shooting d-man who can play top-four minutes. Personally, I like MDZ better, but if thinking of an exchange, receiving Diaz with a pick or prospect would be close to fair.
The blog comments have thrown out Eller for Brassard or a bigger deal involving Nash and Pacioretty, which is something that had been tossed out previously. Eller for Brassard is an exchange of second/third line centers. Eller is a bit more physical than Brassard while Brassard is more of a playmaking type with more offensive upside. Eller did have a shot a top-six duty earlier this year but after a brief spike, reverted back to third line duty, while Brassard has been a disappointment based on how well he played after coming over to NY last year. Maybe that unfairly raised our expectations and he has reverted back to the enigma he was in Columbus, so to me, it's an exchange of relatively even players depending on what role you want them to fill and hope they get a spike from the shift in teams.
On the bigger proposal, I know many Rangers' fans seem to be down on Nash a bit, but as mentioned, part of that may be due to who he is playing with and shift in styles. I like Pacioretty but he is a Nash-lite, as believe talent wise, Nash has a significant edge on Pacioretty while Pacioretty is younger and a lot cheaper, which could enable the Rangers to be even more aggressive on the trade and/or free agent front. I like Gallagher a lot, but if I am dealing Nash, the guy I want is Galchenyuk, who to make has the making of a possible star. That is likely why he is untouchable, but if Nash is dealt, and I put the chances of that at minimal at best, then get the player with the most upside, which as everyone would agree is Galchenyuk and why he is also very unlikely to go anywhere.
Ryan Wilson's Pens Blog: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Ryan-Wilson/Symmetry-In-Systems-Allows-Penguins-To-Overcome-Injury-Bug/177/56513