rangers red wings
Photo: AP

March is a rough month for the New York Rangers, with their first five games of the month coming against teams that will make the playoffs. They got off to a good start, dominating the NHL’s best Predators on Monday, and now look to continue that strong play in Detroit against the Red Wings. Detroit was supposed to be in a transition season, but they have 81 points through 61 games, and are within striking distance of the Atlantic Division crown.

They have a +21 goal differential, and have ridden strong goaltending and great scoring depth to their current position. The Wings have four players on pace for at least 50 points (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Tatar, Nyquist) and have just one player (Joakim Andersson) with more than 30 games played and less than 10 points. This team gets it done up and down the roster, and are incredibly well coached.

What have they done lately?

The Wings are actually playing just .500 hockey at 5-3-2 over their last ten games. But, they have won two in a row and upgraded their roster at the deadline by adding Erik Cole and Marek Zidlicky. These upgrades came to a team that was already one of the better possession teams in the league, rarely dipping below 50% in rolling ten-game averages:

NYR in blue.

NYR in blue.

The Rangers are right there with them at the moment, although their cumulative season average is well below Detroit’s. It’s worth noting that the Rangers have been #4 in the Eastern Conference in puck possession since December, when they got both McDonagh and Boyle back in the lineup.

The Wings have been playing .500 hockey, and that’s largely due to a drop in SPSV%/PDO:

NYR in blue.

NYR in blue.

With that drastic of a drop, you expect to see a decline in goaltending or SH%. It just so happens the Wings are dealing with a dip in both. First SV%:

NYR in blue.

NYR in blue.

Now SH%:

NYR in blue.

NYR in blue.

Both have dropped significantly for the Wings, but their possession prowess likely means this is temporary. They’ve won two in a row, and could be righting that ship as we speak. That said, now is the time you want to play them, while they are struggling.

Wings Systems

Mike Babcock has his boys playing a 2-1-2 forecheck, but mix in a LW lock depending on game situation. In their own zone, Detroit plays a straight up zone defense. On the PP, the Wings employ an umbrella and a 1-3-1 formation, but will use Zetterberg as a rover. He’s all over the zone. On the penalty kill they change up their strategy depending on the opposition’s setup.

Wings Lines

Tomas Jurco-Pavel Datsyuk-Tomas Tatar
Justin Abdelkader-Henrik Zetterberg-Erik Cole
Stephen Weiss-Riley Sheahan-Gustav Nyquist
Drew Miller-Joakim Andersson-Luke Glendening

Niklas Kronwall-Jonathan Ericsson
Danny Dekeyser-Kyle Quincey
Brendan Smith-Marek Zidlicky

PP1: Datsyuk-Nyquist-Sheahan-Tatar-Zidlicky
PP2: Adbelkader-Zetterberg-Cole-Weiss-Kronwall

PK: Glendening, Miller, Andersson, Abdelkader, Sheahan, Ericsson, Kronwall, Dekeyser, Smith

Jimmy Howard gets the start.

Rangers Lines

Rick NashDerick BrassardMats Zuccarello
Chris KreiderDerek StepanMartin St. Louis
Carl HagelinKevin HayesJ.T. Miller
James SheppardDominic MooreJesper Fast

Ryan McDonaghDan Girardi
Marc StaalKevin Klein
Keith YandleDan Boyle

PP1: Yandle, Stepan, Nash, Brassard, Zuccarello
PP2: Boyle, McDonagh, Kreider, Hayes, MSL

PK: Stepan, Nash, Girardi, Staal, Moore, Fast, Hunwick, Boyle, Hagelin, Klein, McDonagh, MSL

Cam Talbot is in net.

Scratches/Injuries: Henrik Lundqvist (throat), Tanner Glass (healthy), Matt Hunwick (healthy)

Be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to the game. Game time is 8pm on NBCSN.

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