Game 58: Battle of all the shots allowed

AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

The Rangers are in Brooklyn to face the Isles tonight in a game where the Rangers could play a spoiler role. The Isles are on the outside looking in, and keeping them from two points is always fun. I know that the fewer the points the better for the draft pick, but it’s the Isles.

Tonight is a battle of two teams that can’t prevent the other from shooting. So this game is either going to be a track meet, or the slowest game we’ve seen this season. I’m hoping for the former. Track meets are always more fun to watch. But aside from that, I’m looking forward to watching another game with the rookie blue line. They’ve been good so far.

Isles Systems

On the forecheck, Doug Weight appears to have the Islanders rotating between a 2-1-2 and a 1-2-2, but use both aggressively. In the defensive zone, it looked like an aggressive zone, likely a hybrid strong side overload/zone. On the penalty kill, it looks like a wedge+1. The powerplay is mostly overload, but they work in a 1-3-1 every now and then.

Islanders Lines

Anders Lee-John Tavares-Josh Bailey
Andrew Beauvillier-Matt Barzal-Jordan Eberle
Andrew Ladd-Brock Nelson-Tanner Fritz
Ross Johnston-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Nick Leddy-Johnny Boychuk
Adam Pelech-Dennis Seidenberg
Thomas Hickey-Ryan Pulock

PP1: Lee-Tavares-Bailey-Barzal-Leddy
PP2: Beauvillier-Nelson-Eberle-Ladd-Pulock

Jaro Halak gets the start.

Rangers Lines 

Rick Nash–Mika Zibanejad–Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner–Kevin Hayes–JT Miller
Jimmy Vesey–David Desharnais–Jesper Fast
Cody McLeod-Peter Holland–Paul Carey

Brady Skjei–Neal Pionk
Nick Holden–Tony DeAngelo
John Gilmour–Ryan Sproul

PP1: Nash-Zuccarello-Zibanejad-Miller-Skjei
PP2: Hayes-Desharnais-Lettieri-Gilmour-DeAngelo

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Chris Kreider (blood clot), Kevin Shattenkirk (knee), Pavel Buchnevich (concussion), Marc Staal (cervical sprain), Ryan McDonagh (lingering something or other), Ondrej Pavelec (knee), Steven Kampfer (hand)

Crazy Prediction: No one gets hurt for a second straight game.

Game time is 7pm. Be sure to follow on our Snapchat for in-game shenanigans.