Game 73: Potential playoff matchup against Florida

rangers panthers 2015

Yes, you read that title correctly. The Rangers, with the way they’ve played this month, have potentially played themselves into a wild card situation. That means they may actually face the Florida Panthers in the first round of the playoffs, depending how the last ten games of the season play out. This game now has playoff implications.

Regardless of who they face in the first round, the Rangers simply can’t continue playing like this. They are lackadaisical, slow, and relying on their All-World goalie too much. Something needs to change, be it deployment or systems. If nothing changes, then this game will be another train wreck.

But let’s have some optimism. Perhaps Saturday’s game was rock bottom, and the Rangers have something click. You never know. Crazier things have happened.

Panthers Systems

Gerard Gallant has the Panthers running a 1-2-2 forecheck, which they will use aggressively or conservatively pending the game situation (e.g., the score, puck location, etc.). In their own end, the Panthers play a straight up zone defense. For special teams, Gallant runs a standard umbrella power play and diamond force/box penalty kill system.

Panthers Lines

Jonathan Huberdeau-Alex Barkov-Jaromir Jagr
Jussi Jokinen-Vincent Trochek-Reilly Smith
Teddy Purcell-Nick Bjugstad-Jiri Hudler
Garrett Wilson-Greg McKegg-Logan Shaw

Aaron Ekblad-Dmitriy Kulikov
Alex Petrovic-Brian Campbell
Jakub Kindl-Steven Kampfer

PP1: Jagr-Huberdeau-Barkov-Ekblad-Kulikov
PP2: Smith-Hudler-Bjugstad-Purcell-Campbell

PK: Smith, Jokinen, Trochek, Barkov, Huberdeau, Petrovic, Kampfer, Gudbranson, Kulikov, Ekblad

Al Montoya (hey, remember him?) gets the start.

Rangers Lines

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