Photo: SI.com
After a pretty disastrous showing this weekend, in which the New York Rangers seemingly forgot how to hockey in losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, the division rival Pittsburgh Penguins are in town with their +28 goal differential. The Pens are dealing with some injuries –not nearly as many as the Rangers, though– but managed to address most of their issues in the offseason. They acquired much-needed depth in Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling (for James Neal). They signed Christian Ehrhoff to address defensive needs as well.
Suit’s System Preview: The Penguins are playing a slightly different system under Mike Johnston than it did under Bylsma. Johnston has Pittsburgh running a stacked 1-2-2 forecheck, which is what AV runs. Everyone attacks and breaks-out in packs. Short, quick passes and attacking the blueline with speed is preferred over dump and chase hockey and home run passes. Pretty much everyone is playing this way now.
Not much has changed in the DZ. They still run a basic zone defense, a 1-3-1 power play and a hybrid penalty kill depending on puck location. It’s a copy cat league kids.
Rangers lineup:
Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Martin St. Louis
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello
Carl Hagelin-Kevin Hayes-Lee Stempniak
Tanner Glass-Dominic Moore-Jesper Fast
Marc Staal-Kevin Klein
Matt Hunwick-Dan Girardi
John Moore-Mike Kostka
Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.
Scratches/Injuries: Dan Boyle (hand), Ryan McDonagh (shoulder), Anthony Duclair (healthy)
As always, be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to a game.
Game time is 7pm on MSG.
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