We take a break from the Callahan and Girardi contract and trade speculation, though not really since it will always in the back of our heads until March 5, to slightly shift the focus to an actual game on the ice. Tonight, the Rangers and Islanders meet at Yankee Stadium. For the Rangers, it is their third outdoor game overall and second in three days while for the Islanders, it will be their first exposure to playing a game outside in the elements after practicing there Tuesday.
It is the Rangers' experience with having dealt with the elements and pomp and circumstance that many believe gives them an edge heading into Wednesday's game. Everyone is aware the ice won't be perfect but with the even colder weather tonight, I would expect the mild amount of choppiness that existed Sunday likely will be somewhat remediated. In addition, many of the comments about the ice seem to be unfounded, but if it's not great, the Rangers get an advantage early in the game from having playing a full game on it and knowing how to compensate for the ice and less lively boards, as Henrik Lundqvist did in informing his teammates how he would play pucks being the net and where to go. That advantage likely will be gone midway through the first period, so I would expect the Rangers to try and grab and use that knowledge to jump to an early lead.
The one interesting quote was from Henrik Lundqvist, which Pat Leonard reporting in the Daily News that for Wednesday night, the noteworthy adjustment for a goalie is that the Stadium lights are “around the top, rather than (shining) straight down… as they would be in an indoor rink. The lights can get in a goalie’s eyes if he looks up too high at the wrong angle." Each goalie will have the same disadvantage, neither practicing there at night and only having some time under the lights. The adage of putting shots on net and good things will happen might be even more important because you could have a goal scored due to the puck getting lost in the lights.
The Rangers lineup will be exactly the same as it has been since the Kevin Klein acquisition, which has freed John Moore up to be more offensive. The Islanders top line destroyed the Rangers last Tuesday when they played. While Vanek-Tavares-Okposo don't have great speed, they have great chemistry and used that to cycle and create space in the last game. If the ice is so-so Wednesday, the ability to cycle and generate chances may be tough because controlling the puck could be difficult, which is why the Rangers used their team speed to create chances and odd man rushes. With Travis Hamonic landing back on the IR due to post-concussion symptoms and Matt Donovan getting called up, look for the Rangers to try to take advantage of a slightly weakened Isles D even with the return of Lubomir Visnovsky on Monday and Evgeni Nabokov making his first start tonight since January 6.
RANGERS
Kreider – Stepan – Nash Hagelin – Richards – Callahan Pouliot – Brassard – Zuccarello Boyle – Moore – Carcillo
Richards missed practice Wednesday morning but is expected to play tonight.
McDonagh – Girardi Staal – Stralman Moore – Klein
Henrik Lundqvist (starting) Cam Talbot (I would expect him to start Friday against the Islanders)
ISLANDERS
Kyle Okposo-John Tavares-Thomas Vanek Josh Bailey-Frans Nielsen-Cal Clutterbuck Colin McDonald-Brock Nelson-Michael Grabner Matt Martin-Eric Boulton-Casey Cizikas
Brian Strait-Andrew MacDonald Calvin de Haan-Matt Donovan Matt Carkner-Thomas Hickey
Evgeni Nabokov (starting) Kevin Poulin
The Rangers, (28-23-3) have won seven of the last 10 games and still sit in second place in the jumbled Metro Division, save for the Penguins who have a 17-point bulge over the Blueshirts. Philly got a 5-0 shutout last night to improve to 26-22-6 and sit in third place by one point. Behind them are the red-hot Hurricanes, who despite a 3-2 loss last night, are 6-4 in their last 10 and 24-20-9. One point behind them are Blue Jackets, who went from unbeatable to losing three in a row, sitting at 26-23-4 and the Capitals, who have won two in a row, welcome back Ovi and are 24-21-8. The Devils, who now have lost two straight after falling 3-0 to St. Louis on Tuesday are 22-22-11 with Wednesday's opponent, the Islanders last in the division at 21-26-8. The Rangers could deal a real death knell to the Islanders' playoff hopes if they win today and Friday, which oddly enough will be the last game between the two clubs in the regular season. This is another key four-point game, the Rangers took care of business Sunday, so so again tonight and it will be a big springboard into Friday.
For those going, I will be in Section 219, Row 7, if you want to pop by. For those watching at home, enjoy the game and all the hoopla and environment surrounding it.