kevin hayes

Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images

The Rangers travel to Raleigh today to take on the Hurricanes, a team that is a lot better than you think. The Canes are one of the teams the Rangers need to leapfrog to make the playoffs, and are one of the top #fancystats darlings of the league. They are built very well. They do lack elite level talent though, especially in net, which has had an impact in the standings.

The Blueshirts are going to be without Ryan McDonagh today, who did not travel to Carolina with an ab injury. Steven Kampfer will dress on the third pair, while Brendan Smith moves up to the top pair. David Desharnais will also return to the lineup after a one game absence (thus proving AV does make lineup changes following a win). This isn’t a must-win, but it’s a would-be-really-nice-to-win, since it’s a four point swing game.

Canes Systems

Under Bill Peters, the Canes play a passive 1-2-2 on the forecheck and look to trap up the neutral zone. In their own end they run your standard low zone collapse. Not the most exciting of systems. On special teams, they run an umbrella powerplay, and a diamond/box hybrid PK.

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

Canes Lines 

Sebastian Aho-Jordan Staal-Teuvo Teravainen
Jeff Skinner-Elias Lindholm-Phillip DiGiuseppe
Brock McGinn-Derek Ryan-Justin Williams
Joakim Nordstrom-Marcus Kruger-Josh Jooris

Jacob Slavin-Brett Pesce
Haydn Fleury-Justin Faulk
Noah Hanifin-Trevor van Riemsdyk

PP1: Staal-Aho-Lindholm-Teravainen-Faulk
PP2: Ryan-McGinn-Skinner-Williams-Slavin

Scott Darling gets the start.

Rangers Lines

Chris Kreider–Mika Zibanejad–Pavel Buchnevich
Rick Nash–Kevin Hayes–Jesper Fast
Michael Grabner-JT Miller-Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey-Boo Nieves-David Desharnais

Nick Holden-Brendan Smith
Brady Skjei–Kevin Shattenkirk
Marc Staal–Steven Kampfer

PP1: Nash-Miller-Buchnevich-Zibanejad-Shattenkirk
PP2: Hayes-Desharnais-Kreider-Zuccarello-Skjei

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Paul Carey (healthy), Ryan McDonagh (abdomen)

Crazy Prediction: Gordie Howe hat trick for Zucc.

Game time is 7pm. Be sure to follow on Twitter for gifs, and on our Snapchat for in-game.

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