mats zuccarello rangers anaheim ducks

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

After two wins to close out last week and a tough 6-in-9 stretch, the Rangers got two much needed days off. Tonight they host the Ducks, fresh off their acquisition of Adam Henrique. Henrique was a much needed add for the Ducks, who were even thinner at center than the Rangers.

As for the Blueshirts, they are finally getting Mika Zibanejad back on the top line with Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich. David Desharnais replaces Boo Nieves on the fourth line for some reason. Likely because we can’t have nice things.

Ducks Systems

Randy Carlyle has the Ducks rotating between an aggressive 1-2-2 forecheck  and a passive 1-2-2. However, they mix in a 2-1-2 forecheck on occasion depending on game situation. In the defensive zone, expect a collapsing box, which will leave the point men open for opportunities. Their powerplay (umbrella) is fairly standard. On the kill, there will be a rotation of PK strategies depending on opposition setup.

Ducks Lines

Rickard Rakell-Ryan Getzlaf-Kevin Roy
Andrew Cogliano-Adam Henrique-Jakob Silfverberg
Chris Wagner-Antoine Vermette-Ondrej Kase
Nick Ritchie-Derek Grant-Logan Shaw

Hampus Lindholm-Josh Manson
Cam Fowler
-Andy Welinski
Kevin Bieksa-Brandon Montour

PP1: Rakell-Getzlaf-Roy-Fowler-Montour
PP2: Kase-Vermette-Henrique–Silfverberg-Lindholm

John Gibson gets the start.

Rangers Lines

Chris Kreider–Mika Zibanejad–Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy VeseyKevin HayesRick Nash
Michael GrabnerJT MillerMats Zuccarello
Paul Carey–David Desharnais–Jesper Fast

Ryan McDonaghNick Holden
Brady SkjeiKevin Shattenkirk
Marc StaalBrendan Smith

PP1: Kreider-Zuccarello-Zibanejad-Buchnevich-Shattenkirk
PP2: Nash-Miller-Vesey-Hayes-McDonagh

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Steven Kampfer (healthy), Boo Nieves (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: A hatty for Zibanejad in his return.

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

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