I want to apologize for my spottiness this week, In my last blog I mentioned I had some family issues going on. I'll try to pick it up a bit the rest of the week.
Rangers at Ducks
The “red hot… New York Rangers come to the Honda Center tonight. Winners of 10 of their last 11 games, the Broadway Blueshirts are firing on all cylinders. I watch the original six team more than any other non-Duck team and the one chink in their armor is overall they have not performed well against the top-tier teams in the league this season.
As for Anaheim, they have won three of their last four games. Half the Ducks season is in the books and they have the most points in the league. I would think tonight would be an opportunity to go all out because they have been off since Sunday and don't play again until next Sunday.
I'm not sure Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau feels the same way. Earlier today it was announced that Ilya Bryzgalov (0-1-0, 6.40 GAA, .789 SV%) would start in goal tonight. Additionally, Devante Smith-Pelly draws back into the lineup so Tim Jackman will join Marc Fistric and Colby Robak in the healthy scratch section of the press box. Jackman has played with an edge recently and his physicality may be missed. Here is tonight's expected lineup:
Forwards Bourque-Getzlaf-Perry Beleskey-Kesler-Palmieri Cogliano-Thompson-Silfverberg Maroon-Rakell-DSP
Defensemen Fowler-Lovejoy Lindholm-Beauchemin Stoner-Vatanen
Goalie Bryzgalov Andersen