2012-2013 Records: Islanders (4-7-1), Rangers (7-5-0)
NYR Leading Scorer: Rick Nash (3-7-10)
NYI Leading Scorer: John Tavares (7-8-15)
NYR Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist (11 GP, 2.48 GAA, .912 SV%)
NYI Goaltender: Evgeni Nabokov (10 GP, 3.00 GAA, .897 SV%)
Rangers Lines:
Marian Gaborik-Brad Richards-Ryan Callahan
Carl Hagelin-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash
JT Miller-Brian Boyle-Taylor Pyatt
Arron Asham-Jeff Halpern-Darroll Powe
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto-Matt Gilroy
Marty Biron
Scratches/Injuries: Mike Sauer (concussion), Chris Kreider (healthy), Stu Bickel (healthy)
Preview:
The Islanders have now lost 5 games in a row, all during regulation. The Rangers can really capitalize on their struggles and start to climb back to being a conference elite. Ultimately, the only good thing the Islanders have going for them right now is their powerplay, so the Rangers have to continue to play disciplined hockey and manage the puck well.
I don’t know how everyone else feels, but I’m not a proponent of bringing Boyle back into the lineup. The Rangers bottom six has looked quicker and more tenacious without him, and obviously we’ve been winning. Until that changed, I would have left things as is.
As we mentioned last week, the Islanders play a 1-2-2 forecheck. They leave a lot of guys at the blueline and wait for other teams to make a mistake. It’s kind of interesting. They’re pretty good in the neutral zone, but once you get the puck in deep, their defensive coverage goes AWOL. Par for the course these days, I suppose.
Opposition Blog: Islanders Point Blank
Broadcast Info: MSG Network 7:00p
Torts Post Practice Interview from Wednesday:
Torts addressed Boyle and Miller. Scope it.
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