Photo: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
The roster is beginning to take shape, and the competition for those final roster spots is heating up. It feels like there are ten players fighting for a handful of spots, and each performance in the preseason will determine who makes the club and who “dies and gets sent to the minors” (thanks good ole Jake Taylor of the Cleveland Indians).
The Rangers play a moderate 1-2-2 forecheck and a strong-side overload in the DZ (man-on-man when the puck is below the goal line). With a lead, AV will back the 1-2-2 forecheck up to the neutral zone, forcing turnovers while keeping five bodies back for defense. As for special teams, the Rangers run a 1-3-1/umbrella hybrid powerplay and a hybrid (diamond/wedge+1) penalty kill).
Joel Quenneville is one of the best coaches in the game. His Hawks play an aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck, keeping the back forward and defensemen ready to jump on turnovers. In the defensive zone, the Hawks play a standard zone defense looking to defend you in layers based on puck location. On special teams, they run a 1-3-1 power play, and a wedge+1 penalty kill.
Rangers lineup:
Chris Kreider-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello
Anthony Duclair-Martin St. Louis-Rick Nash
Ryan Malone-J.T. Miller-Jesper Fast
Tanner Glass-Kevin Hayes-Lee Stempniak
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Dan Boyle
Matt Hunwick-Mike Kostka
Henrik Lundqvist (full game)
Cam Talbot
Game time is 7pm tonight on MSG.
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