rangers hawks

Photo: Reuters/Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY SPORTS

The Rangers are rolling right now. They are 5-0-1 over their last six and playing very strong hockey. Their even strength game seems to have finally caught up to how we expected them to play. Special teams are a disaster, which is certainly a concern, but for now it appears the club has fixed one of their major problems.

The club has done well against some of the bad teams in their recent run, and played the Kings to a tough loss. The Blackhawks are another tough Western Conference opponent, one that is a good litmus test for the Rangers. The Hawks are without some key players, specifically Marian Hossa, and have some depth concerns. But they are still the Hawks.

Oh, and Ryan McDonagh is back. Hooray!

Hawks Systems

Joel Quenneville is one of the best coaches in the game. His Hawks play an aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck, keeping the back forward and defensemen ready to jump on turnovers. In the defensive zone, the Hawks play a standard zone defense looking to defend you in layers based on puck location. On special teams, they run a 1-3-1 power play, and a wedge+1 penalty kill.

Hawks Lines

Andrew Shaw-Jonathan Toews-Richard Panik
Artemi Panirin-Artem Anisimov-Patrick Kane
Andrew Desjardins-Philip Danault-Teuvo Teravainen
Brandon Mashinter-Dennis Rasmussen-Vincent Hinostroza

Duncan Keith-Niklas Hjalmarsson
Trevor van Riemsdyk-Brent Seabrook
Viktor Svedberg-Michal Rozsival

PP1: Kane-Anisimov-Panarin-Keith-Seabrook
PP2: Shaw-Toews-Panik-Svedberg-TVR

PK: Desjardins, Anisimov, Teravainen, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, TVR

Corey Crawford gets the start.

Rangers Lines

Chris KreiderDerek StepanMats Zuccarello
JT MillerDerick BrassardJesper Fast
Oscar LindbergKevin HayesViktor Stalberg
Daniel PailleDominic MooreTanner Glass

Keith YandleDan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh–Kevin Klein
Dan BoyleDylan McIlrath

PP1: Yandle-Klein-Miller-Hayes-Fast
PP2: Zucc-Boyle-Kreider-Stepan-Brassard

PK: Stepan, Moore, Lindberg, Fast, Boyle, Staal, Yandle, Girardi

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Marc Staal (child birth), Rick Nash (leg)

Crazy Prediction: McDonagh scores in his return.

Be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to the game. Game time is 8pm on NBCSN. All gifs will be on nyrgifs.com.

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