The Rangers are off to a slow start this season, and things aren’t going to get any easier. They are in Columbus to take on a strong Jackets team that should be a playoff contender again this season. The Blue Jackets have a very strong blue line, goaltender, and top-nine. Their fourth line can be exploited, though.
As for the Rangers, they are going with another variation of blue liners tonight. Tony DeAngelo is still out, and Nick Holden gets a boost to the top pairing. Poor Ryan McDonagh. The forwards are still a little shallow, as the need for another center grows with every game someone not named Mika Zibanejad can’t score.
Jackets Systems
John Tortorella is a notorious aggressive forechecking coach, deploying a 2-1-2 forecheck with most of his teams. In the defensive zone, he’s also notorious for clogging the slot in a low zone collapse, keeping shots to the outside. On special teams, he usually runs an umbrella powerplay, but there’s enough skill on the top-six in Columbus to run a 1-3-1 as well. On the kill, it’s a standard box/diamond hybrid.
For more on hockey systems, check here.
Jackets Lines
Artemi Panarin-Alex Wennberg-Cam Atkinson
Sonny Milano-Nick Foligno- Oliver Bjorkstrand
Matt Calvert-Brandon Dubinsky-Josh Anderson
Pierre-Luc Dubois-Lukas Sedlak-Zac Dalpe
Zach Werenski-Seth Jones
Jack Johnson-David Savard
Ryan Murray-Gabriel Carlsson
PP1: Atkinson-Wennberg-Panarin-Foligno-Werenski
PP2: Dubois-Dubinsky-Bjorkstrand-Milano-Jones
Sergei Bobrovsky gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Chris Kreider–Mika Zibanejad–Mats Zuccarello
Rick Nash–Kevin Hayes–Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey-David Desharnais–JT Miller
Michael Grabner-Paul Carey-Adam Cracknell
Ryan McDonagh-Nick Holden
Marc Staal-Kevin Shattenkirk
Brady Skjei-Brendan Smith
PP1: Zibanejad-Kreider-Buchnevich-Zuccarello-Shattenkirk
PP2: Nash-Desharnais-Miller-Vesey-McDonagh
Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.
Scratches/Injuries: Jesper Fast (hip), Tony DeAngelo (healthy), Steven Kampfer (healthy)
Crazy Prediction: An even strength goal.
Game time is 7pm.
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