mats zuccarello rangers anaheim ducks

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

The Rangers are now 0-2 on their west coast swing, with a stop in Anaheim tonight to take on the surprisingly mediocre Ducks. The Ducks are a weird team, because they should be better than they are. They’ve dealt with injuries though, and the team the Blueshirts face tonight is not the team they faced earlier in the season.

For the Rangers, this is their game in hand on both Pittsburgh and the Isles. Lose this, and both leap frog (I believe it’s both, but it’s definitely at least the Pens) the Blueshirts in the standings. I know that losing helps their future more by not buying at the deadline, but I can’t for the life of me route for them to lose.

Note: West coast games stink. No recap for tomorrow. Sorry.

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-Corey Petty
Andrew Cogliano-Ryan Kesler-Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie-Adam Henrique-Ondrej Kase
Chris Wagner-Antoine Vermette-JT Brown

Hampus Lindholm-Josh Manson
Cam Fowler
-Kevin Bieksa
Francois Beauchemin-Brandon Montour

PP1: Rakell-Getzlaf-Perry-Henrique-Fowler
PP2: Kase-Kesler–Silfverberg-Montour-Lindholm

John Gibson gets the start.

Rangers Lines

Rick NashMika ZibanejadPavel Buchnevich
Mats ZuccarelloJT MillerVinny Lettieri
Jimmy VeseyDavid DesharnaisPaul Carey
Michael Grabner–Peter HollandJesper Fast

Ryan McDonagh–Nick Holden
Brady Skjei–Brendan Smith
Marc Staal-Tony DeAngelo

PP1: Nash-Zuccarello-Buchnevich-Zibanejad-McDonagh
PP2: Vesey-Miller-Desharnais-Skjei-DeAngelo

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Chris Kreider (blood clot), Kevin Shattenkirk (knee),  Steven Kampfer (healthy), Kevin Hayes (contusion), Daniel Catenacci (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: I don’t fall asleep before the first ends (I’m actually sick, so this is crazy enough for me).

Game time is 10pm. Be sure to follow on our Snapchat for in-game shenanigans.

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