Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
It has been a rough six weeks for Rangers fans. We’ve watched the team free fall, with just 17 points since the beginning of December. There have been process improvements on the ice, but the team hasn’t been able to string together W’s consistently. It’s been maddening.
As noted, there have been on-ice process improvements though. With a relatively poor Vancouver team in town, tonight is a good night to start building something, even without Derick Brassard. It looks like the Canucks are without Henrik Sedin, so that’s a lucky break for the Rangers.
And hey, potential future Ranger Radim Vrbata is playing too.
Canucks Systems
On the forecheck, Willie Desjardins has the Canucks employ an overload 1-2-2, which is what the Rangers run. They also play a man-on-man defense depending on puck location. On special teams, they run a 1-3-1 power play and rotate between a box and diamond penalty kill depending on puck location.
Canucks Lines
Daniel Sedin-Jared McCann-Janick Hansen
Sven Baertschi-Bo Horvat-Radim Vrbata
Alex Burrows-Adam Cracknell-Derek Dorsett
Emerson Etem-Linden Vey-Jake Virtanen
Alex Edler-Chris Tanev
Ben Hutton-Luca Sbisa
Matt Bartkowski-Alex Biega
PP1: Sedin-McCann-Vrbata-Burrows-Edler
PP2: Baertschi-Horvat-Vey-Hutton-Sbisa
PK: Horvat, Burrows, Hansen, Dorsett, Sedin, Tanev, Edler, Bartkowski, Biega
Ryan Miller gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Mats Zuccarello–Kevin Hayes–Rick Nash
Chris Kreider–Derek Stepan–J.T. Miller
Viktor Stalberg–Oscar Lindberg–Jesper Fast
Tanner Glass–Dominic Moore–Jayson Megna
Ryan McDonagh–Kevin Klein
Marc Staal–Dan Boyle
Keith Yandle–Dan Girardi
PP1: Nash-Zuccarello-??-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), Derick Brassard (flu)
Crazy Prediction: No one wants to pull their hair out at any point during this game.
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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