Photo: AP
The Rangers dropped their first game of the season on Tuesday night to Winnipeg. Their special teams really failed them, allowing two powerplay goals and a shorthanded goal. This came on the heels of three straight wins to start the season, so losses are to be expected. But the Rangers seem to have an issue on special teams to start the year. They’ve allowed a lot of powerplay goals already.
As per usual with Alain Vigneault, there is another lineup change tonight. Jesper Fast and Dan Boyle return to the lineup, and Emerson Etem will make his Rangers debut. Tanner Glass, Jarret Stoll, and Dylan McIlrath will sit.
What have they done lately?
The Habs have started off hot, winning their first four games on the road, scoring 13 goals and allowing just six in the process. Carey Prices has resumed his Vezina self, and Max Pacioretty has basically taken the October Hart Trophy lead. This is a team that should make the playoffs on just those two players alone, but they also have P.K. Subban on the blue line. This is a good team.
Habs Systems
Under Michel Therrien, the Canadiens play a 1-2-2 forecheck, but do use a 2-1-2 style from time to time based on the score and puck location. Though this team prefers to want to play passive and clog up the neutral zone. Like the Rangers, Montreal’s defensive zone system is to overload when the puck is along the boards and man-on-man when the puck is down low.
What’s interesting is that Therrien has said in the past that they overload the boards because of their team size and speed (note: small and fast). On special teams, the Habs play your standard umbrella powerplay. On the penalty kill, they rotate between a diamond force and a box depending on puck location. They really look to pressure the opposition all over the ice when shorthanded.
Habs Lines
Max Pacioretty-Tomas Plekanec-Brendan Gallagher
Lars Eller-Alex Galchenyuk-Alex Semin
Tomas Fleischmann-David Desharnais-Dale Weise
Brian Flynn-Torrey Mitchell-Devante Smith-Pelley
Andrei Markov-P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin-Jeff Petry
Nathan Beaulieu-Tom Gilbert
Carey Price gets the start
Rangers Lines
Rick Nash–Derick Brassard–Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider–Derek Stepan–Kevin Hayes
Viktor Stalberg–Oscar Lindberg–J.T. Miller
Emerson Etem-Dominic Moore-Jesper Fast
Ryan McDonagh–Dan Girardi
Marc Staal–Dan Boyle
Keith Yandle–Kevin Klein
PP1: Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello, Yandle-Klein
PP2: Kreider-Hayes-Miller, McDonagh-Stepan
PK: Stepan, Nash, Moore, Lindberg, Girardi, McDonagh, Staal, Klein
Henrik Lundqvist is in net.
Scratches/Injuries: Tanner Glass (healthy), Jarret Stoll (healthy), Dylan McIlrath (healthy)
Crazy Prediction: Emerson Etem scores in his debut.
Be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to the game. Game time is 7pm on MSG, but puck drop will be later because of opening night ceremonies. All GIFs will be on nyrgifs.com.
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