jesper fast

Ed Mulholland/USA Today Sports, via Reuters

The Rangers are in the middle of a tough run in the schedule right now. Today’s game against the Devils is their fourth in seven nights, and the first of a back-to-back, a three-in-four, and a four-in-six. And of all these games, only one comes against a non-playoff team, and that’s today. That’s a lot of hockey for any team. Luckily for the Rangers, they are also locked into the playoffs barring an epic collapse.

While today’s game is one of division rivals, the focus is on the trade deadline. The Rangers are highly interested in a pair of defensemen – Kevin Shattenkirk and Brendan Smith. Both deals –not individually, they need both to happen– make the Rangers a legitimate Cup contender. But no one knows if the Rangers are going to pull off both moves.

Devils Systems

John Hynes has his club running a 1-2-2 forecheck, a low zone collapse, an umbrealla powerplay and a hybrid penalty kill. These are standard systems across the board, and are not very aggressive in nature. The Devils will look to sit and force turnovers in the neutral zone on the forecheck, then collapse to block shots and defend the high priced real estate in the defensive zone. Considering the team, conservative is probably his best bet.

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

Devils Lines

Taylor Hall-Travis Zajac-Kyle Palmieri
Beau Bennett-Adam Henrique-PA Parenteau
Mike Cammalleri-Jacob Josefson-Stefan Noesen
Miles Wood-Joseph Blandisi-Devante Smith-Pelley

Andy Greene-Ben Lovejoy
Jon Merrill-Steven Santini
Kyle Quincey-Damon Severson

PP1: Zajac-Hall-Palmieri-Wood-Greene
PP2: Henrique-Bennett-Parenteau-Blandisi-Severson

Corey Schneider gets the start.

Rangers Lines 

Chris KreiderMika ZibanejadMats Zuccarello
Jimmy VeseyDerek StepanRick Nash
Michael GrabnerKevin HayesJT Miller
Brandon Pirri–Oscar LindbergJesper Fast

Ryan McDonaghDan Girardi
Marc StaalNick Holden
Brady SkjeiAdam Clendening

PP1: Zibanejad-Buchnevich-Nash-Miller-McDonagh
PP2: Stepan-Miller-Kreider-Zuccarello-Holden

Antti Raanta gets the start.

Injuries/Scratches:  Pavel Buchnevich (healthy), Matt Puempel (healthy), Kevin Klein (upper body)

Crazy Prediction: A mid-game trade that forces someone off the ice. It won’t happen, but that would be wild.

Game time is 5pm. Gifs are on @blueseatblogs. Be sure to follow our snapchat (blueseatblogs) too!

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