The Rangers are experiencing quite a run of success. They are 10-2-2 to start the season and 7-0-2 in their last nine games. Tonight they face a Carolina Hurricanes team that is one of the better possession teams in the league. They are small and fast, but lack true finishing skill outside of the Staals.
The Canes have played .500 hockey for their first 14 games, and have a -10 goal differential thus far. They have just one player (Versteeg) with double-digit points. Their goaltending duo of Cam Ward-Eddie Lack has been atrocious, with neither above a .907 SV%. The Canes have a good process –they drive possession– but lack the talent to score or keep scorers at bay.
What have they done lately?
The Canes are a bit of a surprise this year. They were expected to be pretty terrible and a bottom feeder. They aren’t a strong team by any stretch, but they are a much better possession team, at least early in the season, than many expected. They lack talent, and it shows on the scoreboard. The Canes don’t score much and allow a lot of goals. That said, the process is certainly there. They won’t be good this year though.
Canes Systems
Under Bill Peters, the Canes play a passive 1-2-2 on the forecheck and look to trap up the neutral zone. In their own end they run your standard low zone collapse. Not the most exciting of systems. On special teams, they run an umbrella powerplay, and a diamond/box hybrid PK. For more on the systems, click here.
Canes Lines
Eric Staal-Victor Rask-Elias Lindholm
Nathan Gerbe-Jordan Staal-Chris Terry
Jeff Skinner-Riley Nash-Kris Versteeg
Brock McGinn-Jay McClement-Joakim Nordstrom
Ron Hainsey-Justin Faulk
John-Michael Liles-Brett Pesce
Michael Jordan-Ryan Murphy
PP1: Versteeg-E. Staal-Rask-Murphy-Faulk
PP2: Nash-J. Staal-Lindholm-Skinner-Liles
PK: McClement, Nash, J. Staal, Gerbe, Rask, McGinn, Faulk, Hainsey, Liles, Jordan, Pesce
Cam Ward gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Rick Nash–Derick Brassard–Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider–Derek Stepan–J.T. Miller
Oscar Lindberg–Kevin Hayes–Viktor Stalberg
Emerson Etem-Jarret Stoll–Jesper Fast
Ryan McDonagh–Dan Girardi
Marc Staal–Kevin Klein
Keith Yandle–Dan Boyle
PP1: Nash-Stepan-Zuccarello, Brassard-McDonagh
PP2: Kreider-Hayes-Lindberg, Yandle-Klein
PK: Stepan, Nash, Stoll, Lindberg, Girardi, McDonagh, Staal, Klein
Henrik Lundqvist is in net.
Scratches/Injuries: Dominic Moore (healthy), Dylan McIlrath (healthy)
Crazy Prediction: McDonagh gets off the schneid.
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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