Game 23: Beating a mediocre team in Nashville
Photo: KOSTAS LYMPEROPOULOS/CSM Landov
The Rangers are in Nashville tonight to take on a mediocre Predators team with a -13 goal differential. You can argue that the Rangers have a -8 goal differential, making them just as mediocre, but we know there are a few games skewing that. The key to beating Nashville is staying out of the box, since they convert at over 20% with the man advantage. Shea Weber at the point does that to a powerplay. Regardless, this is a mediocre team that the Rangers need to beat and continue to roll.
Under Barry Trotz, Nashville plays a 1-1-3 lock or a 1-2-2, which he uses aggressively or conservatively depending on puck location, the score, etc. In the defensive zone, the Preds are mostly conservative, playing a low zone collapse/box+1. They also run an umbrella/ 1-3-1 power play, and they run it very well (21.6% success). On the PK they run diamond/box hybrid penalty kill depending on puck location and opposition setup.
Rangers Lineup:
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello
Rick Nash-Brad Richards-Ryan Callahan
Carl Hagelin-Derick Brassard-Benoit Pouliot
Derek Dorsett-Brian Boyle-Dominic Moore
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Anton Stralman
John Moore-Michael Del Zotto
Cam Talbot gets the start.
Scratches: Taylor Pyatt (concussion), J.T. Miller (healthy), Justin Falk (healthy)
Game time is 8pm tonight. Don’t forget to check out our Rangers Tickets link for deals to attend games.
My son who works for the Predators, says the score will be 5-2. I said is that a Ranger 5 and he said yes.
so when do they send miller back to the ahl?
Send Pouliot or Pyatt instead!!
pouliott is better than miller. that is fact.
Right???????
Nashville is a very unpredictable team, the Rangers need a better start then they did in Dallas or they may find the Preds a hard team to come back against. I like AV’s line combos but still think Pouliot is a boat anchor. Hopefully, he will prove me wrong and score a goal tonight.
Turnover delzotto, turnover delzotto
Well Girardi got his nightly ‘knocked on his ass hit,’ in the 1st pd., so I guess its an official game.
Interesting
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/22/rangers-owner-dolan-had-special-relationship-with-tortorella/
So, this 4th line should stay intact for awhile. Can we finally embrace Derek Dorsett?
First of all, very good team effert, and win!!
Talbot, second straight shut out, nice job kid!!
Second goal was a beauty!!
Del Zotto sucks!! Oh did I mention how Del Zotto sucks??
Tx Ranger, where the hell was your boy Pouliot???
Did I mention how badly Pouliot sucks??
My son was at a bar with several Predator players after the game. They all wanted to know who this number 27 is and more importantly, why was he blowing up their offense.