The best Rangers by jersey number - Carl Hagelin wins #62

Well, the New York Rangers are playing host to the Ottawa Senators in what is essentially a meaningless game for the Rangers. Home ice is clinched, so now the priority shifts to getting guys healthy while ensuring bad habits don’t develop. Ryan Bourque and Chris Summers have been called up, and Rick Nash and Marc Staal will be sitting tonight.

While this game has no meaning for the Rangers, the Sens have a lot riding on this game. They are still clinging to playoff hopes and dreams, especially after their dramatic comeback against the Pens the other night. The Sens need this win tonight.

What have they done lately?

The Sens came back from down 3-0 to beat the Pens in OT on Tuesday to move into a virtual tie with Boston for the final wild card spot with 95 points. The Sens have been seeing a dip in their possession game lately though, which might be one of the reasons why they’ve actually lost two games in regulation over their last ten.

rangers senators 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

The Sens keep winning despite the dropping possession above, but their SPSV%/PDO is also tanking real hard. In the middle of their 17-1-2 run, they were experiencing a string of great SV% and great SH%. Now, they are leveling out.

rangers senators 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Looking at shooting first, they are coming back down to Earth at around 6% shooting. Meanwhile, the Rangers have seen their SH% rise as they get back into that rush game.

rangers senators 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Goaltending has been the biggest contributor to the Sens’ recent signs of mortality lately, as Hamburglar has been crashing back to normalcy.

rangers senators 2015

Courtesy of war-on-ice

This is a must win for the Sens, so I’d expect them to learn from the last time these two teams played, when the Rangers dismantled them in convincing fashion.

Sens Systems

Under Dave Cameron, the Sens have simplified their game a bit. They play an aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck, sending two guys in to pressure the puck. They sometimes leave them high in the zone, setting up two at the blue line and one at the red line to clog the neutral zone. In the defensive zone, the Sens play a strong side overload, which is similar to what the Rangers play. The difference is that the Sens go into a low zone collapse if the puck gets to the weak side point, whereas the Rangers switch to man when the puck gets deep.

On special teams, the Sens run a standard umbrella powerplay and a hybrid penalty kill.

Sens Lines

Mike Hoffman-Mika Zibanejad-Bobby Ryan
Alex Chiasson-Kyle Turris-Mark Stone
Erik Condra-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Curtis Lazar
Colin Greening-David Legwand-Zack Smith

Marc Methot-Erik Karlsson
Patrick Wiercioch-Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki-Eric Gryba

PP1: Ryan-Legwand-Zibanejad-Wiercioch-Karlsson
PP2: Stone-Turris-Hoffman-Chiasson-Ceci

PK: Pageau, Condra, Legwand, Stone, Methot, Borowiecki, Ceci, Gryba

Andrew Hammond gets the start.

Rangers Lines (unconfirmed)

Jesper FastDerick Brassard-J.T. Miller
Chris KreiderDerek Stepan-Martin St. Louis
Carl HagelinKevin Hayes-Ryan Bourque
Tanner GlassDominic MooreJames Sheppard

Keith Yandle-Ryan McDonagh
Matt Hunwick-Dan Girardi
Chris Summers-Dan Boyle

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

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

Henrik Lundqvist is in net.

Scratches/Injuries: Kevin Klein (arm), Mats Zuccarello (small injury), Marc Staal (healthy), Rick Nash (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: Bourque gets a goal in his NHL debut.

Be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to the game. Game time is 7pm on MSG.

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