rangers devils

AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

The Rangers are now 1-4 to start the season. It is not panic time just yet, as you can’t make the playoffs in October. However you can miss the playoffs in October, and given the Metro Division, that holds particularly true if the Rangers don’t start banking some points. Tonight they get the lowly Devils, so hopefully they should come out with two points. It doesn’t matter how, the Devils aren’t making the playoffs, they just need the points.

The issue goes beyond roster decisions. As Pat pointed out this afternoon, it’s about in-game deployment. There is no reason why the KZB line should be stuck with defensive zone starts with McDonagh/Holden while the fourth line –assembled as a defense-first unit– gets offensive zone starts with Shattenkirk/Skjei. It’s mind boggling. But whatever. Water under the bridge. Just get points.

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-Pavel Zacha-Kyle Palmieri
Marcus Johanssen-Nico Hischier-Jesper Bratt
Miles Wood-Adam Henrique-Jimmy Hayes
Brian Gibbons-Blake Coleman-Stefan Noesen

Andy Greene-Steven Santini
John Moore-Damon Severson
Will Butcher-Dalton Prout

PP1: Hayes-Henrique-Palmieri-Hall-Butcher
PP2: Bratt-Hischier-Zacha-Johanssen-Severson

Keith Kinkaid 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

Ondrej Pavelec gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Jesper Fast (hip), Tony DeAngelo (healthy), Steven Kampfer (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: Lindy Ruff ties a balloon to Alain Vigneault, causing him to float away. Ruff then takes over head coaching duties mid-game. (Not saying I want Ruff to take over HC duties, but I feel like we are at the point where any change is good change.)

Game time is 7pm.

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