ANDREW THEODORAKIS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News

The Rangers are one of the hottest teams in the league right now. They are 11-3-1 in their last 15, including 6-1-1 in their last eight. The Isles are also playing strong hockey, posting a 7-2-1 mark in their last ten, making them relevant in the Metropolitan Division once again. Tonight will be the first of three meetings between the clubs this month, with two more coming on 1/29 (Stadium Series) and 1/31. Taking all three would go a long way for the Rangers in putting distance between them and the rest of the division.

The Isles run an aggressive 1-2-2 forecheck and a 1-1-3 lock depending on the score, which they use to counter other teams mistakes. In the defensive zone, the Isles play man-on-man, so expect our defense to get pressured along the blueline. Look for blown coverages, as this Isles team is still a bit raw on defense. On special teams, the Isles run a 1-3-1 power play and a hybrid penalty kill.

Rangers Lineup:

Chris KreiderDerek StepanRick Nash
Carl HagelinBrad RichardsRyan Callahan
Benoit PouliotDerick BrassardMats Zuccarello
Brian BoyleDominic Moore-Dan Carcillo

Ryan McDonaghDan Girardi
Marc StaalAnton Stralman
Michael Del ZottoJohn Moore

Cam Talbot gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Derek Dorsett (broken leg), Henrik Lundqvist (illness), Justin Falk (healthy)

Game time is 7m on MSG. Don’t forget to check out our Rangers Tickets link for deals to attend games.

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