Game 43: Battle for second place in Brooklyn

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Tonight is another big four-point swing game for the Rangers, as they travel to Brooklyn to take on the Islanders. The last time these two teams played, the Rangers were mired in a slump but managed to grab a point in a shootout loss. This time around, the Isles are without two of their top defensemen in Johnny Boychuck and Travis Hamonic.

As for the Rangers, Dan Girardi is a game-time decision with a laceration on his hand. Dylan McIlrath will play if Girardi can’t go. They’ve been played better of late, and are 4-2-1 in their seven games since Washington embarrassed them in December. Process is getting better on the ice, even if there are still roster decision questions made nightly.

Isles Systems

Like the Rangers, Isles head coach Jack Capuano has the Isles running a 1-2-2 forecheck and a 1-1-3 lock, which they use aggressively or conservatively depending on the game situation (e.g., score, time left in period, etc.). In the defensive zone, the Isles are bit different than the Blueshirts. Capuano has them playing man-on-man up high, but collapse into a zone defense when the puck is down low. On special teams, the Isles rotate between a 1-3-1 and 1-2-2 power play and a hybrid penalty kill.

Isles Lines

Mikhail Grabovski-John Tavares-Kyle Okposo
Nikolai Kulemin-Frans Nielsen-Ryan Strome
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Josh Bailey
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Nick Leddy-Calvin de Haan
Thomas Hickey-Marek Zidlicky
Adam Pelech-Brian Strait

PP1: Tavares-Nelson-Nielsen-Okposo-Leddy
PP2: Lee-Bailey-Strome-Grabovski-Zidlicky

PK: Nielsen, Kulemin, Cizikas, Clutterbuck, Nelson, de Haan, Leddy, Hickey, Strait

Jaroslav Halak gets the start.

Rangers Lines

J.T. Miller–Derick Brassard–Mats Zuccarello
Jayson Megna–Derek Stepan–Rick Nash
Chris Kreider–Kevin Hayes–Jesper Fast
Tanner Glass–Dominic Moore–Viktor Stalberg

Ryan McDonagh–Kevin Klein
Marc Staal–Dan Boyle
Keith Yandle–Dan Girardi/Dylan McIlrath

PP1: Nash-Zuccarello-Brassard-Boyle-McDonagh
PP2: Kreider-Miller-Stepan-Yandle-Klein

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

Henrik Lundqvist is in net.

Scratches/Injuries: Dylan McIlrath (healthy)/Dan Girardi (hand), Oscar Lindberg (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: Shutout for Hank.

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.