Game 7: Bury the curse, beat the fourth string goalie

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The Rangers swept the weekend back-to-back despite a number of last minute injuries. After two days off, they are looking to make it three in a row on Rivalry Night on NBCSN against the Bruins. But tonight is like no other Rivalry Night. Tonight, the Rangers try to break the curse.

That curse, of course, is beating the opposition’s fourth string goalie. In the history of the organization, the Rangers have never been able to beat the fourth string goalie. Ever*. Luckily the Bruins are off to a mediocre start, as depth seems to be a major issue in Boston.

*-Probably not true, but it sure does seem like it.

Bruins Systems

The Bruins have had the same style of play for years under Claude Julien. They play an aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck early in the period and then switch to a more conservative 1-4 or 1-1-3 lock later in the period if they have a lead. In the defensive zone, the Bs play a low zone collapse and try to defend you in layers depending on puck location. On special teams, the Bruins use an umbrella power play and a wedge+1/diamond force penalty kill where they try to pressure for turnovers.

For more on these systems, check out our Hockey Systems page.

Bruins Lines 

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak
Danton Heinen-David Krejci-Matt Beleskey
Dominic Moore-Ryan Spooner-Jimmy Hayes
Tim Schaller-Riley Nash-Noel Acciari

Zdeno Chara-Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
John-Michael Liles-Colin Miller

PP1: Heinen-Bergeron-Spooner-Krejdi-Krug
PP2: Beleskey-Marchand-Pastrnak–Liles-Miller

Zane McIntyre gets the start.

Rangers Lines:

Jimmy Vesey–Derek Stepan–Rick Nash
J.T. Miller–Mika Zibanejad–Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner–Kevin Hayes–Jesper Fast
Brandon Pirri–Oscar Lindberg-Josh Jooris

Ryan McDonagh–Dan Girardi
Marc Staal–Kevin Klein
Brady Skjei–Nick Holden

PP1: DJ ZBad-Miller-Pirri-Zucc-McDonagh
PP2: Nash-Stepan-Vesey-Hayes-Girardi

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.

Injuries/Scratches: Chris Kreider (back), Pavel Buchnevich (back), Dylan McIlrath (healthy), Adam Clendening (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: They finally, for the first time in the history of the organization, beat the backup to the backup to the backup to the starting goalie.

Game time is 8pm. Gifs on @blueseatblogs. Be sure to follow our snapchat (blueseatblogs) too!