Photo: Star Ledger

Photo: Star Ledger

Just when you think the Rangers have righted the ship, a goalie like Antii Niemi steals one for the opposition, and the Rangers are again left without points. That comfy second-place cushion is gone, and the Rangers are barely in a playoff spot. The Flyers and Blue Jackets have two games in hand, and the Caps are breathing down the Blueshirts’ necks. The Rangers have the benefit of a weak schedule over the last 13 games, but they need points. That needs to begin tonight against Ottawa.

The Sens forechecking strategy is a bit complex, as they are a hybrid forechecking/lock team. When they are trailing or tied, they’ll send two or three guys after the puck in a 2-1-2 formation. When they are ahead though, they lock it up with a 1-1-3 forecheck, a variation of the 2-3 lock. They are an overload/zone defense team depending on puck location. On special teams, they run a standard umbrella power play, but run a hybrid PK (box, diamond, wedge+1) depending on puck location and opposition formation.

Rangers Lineup:

Chris KreiderDerek StepanRick Nash
Carl HagelinBrad RichardsBenoit Pouliot
Martin St. LouisDerick BrassardMats Zuccarello
Brian BoyleDominic Moore-Dan Carcillo

Ryan McDonaghDan Girardi
Marc StaalAnton Stralman
John MooreKevin Klein

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start

Scratches/Injuries: Derek Dorsett (healthy), Ryan Haggerty (healthy),  Justin Falk (healthy), Raphael Diaz (healthy)

Game time is 7:30pm on MSG. Don’t forget to check out our Rangers Tickets link for deals to attend games.

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