rangers avalance

Trolling a little with this picture. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

And so it begins. The Rangers take the ice tonight for the first time in the 2017-2018 season, and are handed a gimme game against Colorado at home. Our Blueshirts made a significant upgrade on the blue line, essentially replacing Dan Girardi with Kevin Shattenkirk. They also basically swapped Brady Skjei and Marc Staal’s minutes. With no Nick Holden or Kevin Klein, the blue line looks reborn.

As for the forwards, the loss of Derek Stepan stings, but this is a very talented group that can put up goals. Filip Chytil will get most of the attention between Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello, but don’t underestimate the KZB line or the third line of Grabner-Hayes-Miller. This team should push the pace and be fun to watch.

Avs Systems

Jared Bednar is an aggressive coach, running an aggressive, push the pace style. While I’m not well versed in his systems, I’d expect that to turn into a 2-1-2 forecheck and an overload in the defensive zone. Aggressiveness without skill –which the Avs don’t really have outside of three guys– can spell disaster. Expect numerous breakdowns and chances for the Rangers and their counterattack offense.

Avs Lines

Sven Andrighetto-Nathan MacKinnon-Mikko Rantanen
Nail Yakupov-Matt Duchene-Alex Ferfoot
Gabriel Landeskog-JT Compher-Colin Wilson
Matt Nieto-Tyson Jost-Blake Comeau

Mark Barberio-Erik Johnson
Patrik Nemeth-Tyson Barrie
Andrei Mironov-Chris Bigras

PP1: Landeskog-Duchene-Rantanen-Johnson-Barberio
PP2: Andrighetto-MacKinnon-Jost-Compher-Barrie

Semyon Varlamov gets the start.

Rangers Lines

Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich
Rick Nash-Filip Chytil-Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-JT Miller
Jimmy Vesey-David Desharnais-Paul Carey

Ryan McDonagh-Kevin Shattenkirk
Brady Skjei-Brendan Smith
Marc Staal-Tony DeAngelo

PP1: Zibanejad-Kreider-Buchnevich-Zuccarello-Shattenkirk
PP2: Nash-Desharnais-Miller-McDonagh-DeAngelo

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.

Crazy Prediction: A Chytil goal from DeAngelo as the game winner.

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