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Game 33: NYR-ANA, a match up of two teams going in opposite directions

December 18, 2018, 7:55 AM ET [171 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Rangers, in the throes of a slump, take on the hot Ducks on Tuesday at MSG. New York, 2-5-3 in their last 10 and losers of three straight, face Anaheim, winners of six straight on the road, tied for the second-longest in franchise history, and victorious in nine of their last 10 contests, Adam Henrique and Ryan Getzlaf each had a goal and an assist for Anaheim in their win over Pittsburgh on Monday.

The major change in the lineup tonight could see Alexandar Georgiev, who hasn’t played a game for the Rangers since his Dec. 1 start in Montreal, between the pipes in place of Henrik Lundqvist. Georgiev just got back from almost two weeks with AHL Hartford, where he played five games with a team that is struggling to defend. He suffered a loss in each contest, and giving up a total of 17 goals on 144 shots (.882 save percentage), though as I noted the other day, 11 of those goals were surrendered in two games.

Lundqvist has started 25 of the team’s first 32 games and has been under siege recently. Overall, he has posted a 2.87 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage, though those numbers don’t accurately represent just how good he has been behind a Swiss cheese defense. A game off is not the worst idea in the world for Lundqvist, allowing him a chance to mentally recharge.

Sunday’s forward lines:
Chytil-Zibanejad-Zuccarello
Kreider-Hayes-Buchnevich
Namestnikov-Howden-Vesey
Andersson-Nieves-Strome

Coach David Quinn is considering moving Boo Nieves back to his natural center position after he played wing Sunday. “I really wanted Lias in the middle because that’s Lias’ position,” Quinn said, the line being rounded out by Ryan Strome on the right. “In fairness to Boo, playing wing is something he hasn’t done in a while. We’ll see what we do [Tuesday night] with that line, who will play the middle.”

With Jesper Fast out 2-4 weeks with a shoulder injury, Strome gets another chance to prove he should remain in the lineup. So far, he hasn’t shown me much. I would almost prefer Matt Beleskey, who was just sent down, Steven Fogarty or Peter Holland to Strome, who really isn’t a fourth line player.

Sunday’s blueline:
Staal-Pionk
Claesson-McQuaid
Skjei-DeAngelo

For tonight’s game, Brendan Smith, scratched Sunday, his third benching in the past four games, looks likely to return to the lineup. Smith practiced in place of Fredrik Claesson on the left side of a pair with Adam McQuaid. What?

Can someone explain this to me? Claesson has been the team’s best and most consistent defenseman. I want him paired with Brady Skjei or Neal Pionk not on the bench. New York just came off a stretch of two games in 12 days, so Claesson shouldn’t be tired and in need of a rest. Unless he has an unreported injury, making this switch is a mistake. The defense has been horrible lately and you sit the one player who has been of the bench? I just don’t get it.

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