mats zuccarello

After what seems like a month off, the Rangers are back in action tonight against the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs. The Rangers are 6-2-2 and sitting pretty with the leaders in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers have been relying heavily on stellar goaltending to start the season, as the defense has been suspect and inconsistent. They have been hemorrhaging shots left and right. Shot hemorrhaging should level out a bit as the goaltending comes back to Earth. Hopefully that means the favorable results continue.

The Leafs are….bad. Like, real bad. Auston Matthews bad. They can’t score. Can’t play defense. Can’t stop shots. Nothing. So naturally, this feels like a trap game, especially after a long layover.

What have they done lately?

The Leafs stink.

Leafs Systems

In Detroit, Mike Babcock had his boys playing a 2-1-2 forecheck, but mix in a LW lock depending on game situation. In their own zone, it was a straight up zone defense. On the PP, it was an umbrella and a 1-3-1 formation. On the penalty kill they changed up their strategy depending on the opposition’s setup.

In Toronto, Babcock hasn’t changed much, however his powerplay is a straight umbrella at the moment. They don’t have the skill to run a 1-3-1 yet, nor do they have a Henrik Zetterberg to serve as a roamer.

Leafs Lines

James van Riemsdyk-Nazem Kadri-Leo Komarov
Shawn Matthias-Peter Holland-P.A. Parenteau
Daniel Winnik-Tyler Bozak-Joffrey Lupul
Michael Grabner-Byron Froese-Rich Clune

Jake Gardiner-Dion Phaneuf
Matt Hunwick-Morgan Rielly
Martin Marincin-Roman Polak

PP1: Lupul-Kadri-Parenteau-JVR-Phaneuf
PP2: Bozak-Holland-Winnik-Gardiner-Rielly

PK: Winnik, Grabner, Froese, Matthias, Komarov, Hunwick, Rielly, Phaneuf, Polak

Jonathan Bernier gets the start.

Rangers Lines

Rick NashDerek StepanMats Zuccarello
Chris KreiderDerick BrassardJesper Fast
Oscar LindbergKevin HayesJ.T. Miller
Viktor StalbergDominic MooreJarret Stoll

Ryan McDonaghKevin Klein
Keith YandleDan Girardi
Marc StaalDan Boyle

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

PK: Stepan, Nash, Moore, Lindberg, Girardi, McDonagh, Staal, Klein

Henrik Lundqvist is in net.

Scratches/Injuries: Viktor Stalberg (upper body), Dylan McIlrath (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: Hank gets the shutout.

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

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