Photo: Getty

The Rangers are back in action tonight in St. Louis, taking on Blues in a battle for draft positioning. Neither team is making the playoffs, so neither team has much to play for. The Blueshirts are getting long looks at the kids, and the Blues are gearing up for next season.

On the bright side, it’s St. Patrick’s Day. And there shouldn’t be any more Susan Sarandon between the benches. So those are two positives for this game. This could have been a homecoming for Kevin Shattenkirk as well, but he’s not playing. He should be shut down for the year, but who knows. Anyway, let’s enjoy some stress free hockey.

Blues Systems

Mike Yeo is the new man in St. Louis, replacing Ken Hitchcock. I haven’t watched St. Louis that closely since he took over, but Yeo ran a nice balance of aggressiveness and passiveness in Minnesota. Expect a 1-2-2 forecheck that rotates between pressuring the puck carrier low and taking a more passive stance high, depending on game situation. Also expected straight zone coverage in the defensive zone, with some pressure on the points to force turnovers. Special teams isn’t going to be crazy, with a hybrid umbrella/1-3-1 powerplay and a zone penalty kill.

Blues Lines

Jayden Schwatz-Brayden Schenn-Vladimir Tarasenko
Patrik Berglund-Kyle Brodziak-Alex Steen
Dmitrij Jaskin-Vladimir Sobotka-Tage Thompson
Nikita Soshnikov-Ivan Barbashev-Chris Thorburn

Carl Gunnarsson-Alex Pietrangelo
Vince Dunn-Colton Parayko
Joel Edmundson-Robert Bortozzo

PP1: Schwartz-Steen-Schenn-Tarasenko-Pietrangelo
PP2: Sobotka-Berglund-Jaskin-Parayko-Dunn

Jake Allen gets the start.

Rangers Lines 

Chris Kreider–Mika Zibanejad–Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey-Vladislav Namestnikov-Mats Zuccarello
Ryan Spooner–Kevin Hayes–Jesper Fast
Paul Carey–Peter Holland-Cody McLeod

Brady Skjei–John Gilmour
Marc Staal–Neal Pionk
Rob O’Gara-Ryan Sproul

PP1: Kreider-Zuccarello-Zibanejad-Buchnevich-Skjei
PP2: Vesey-Holland-Namestnikov-Hayes-Gilmour

Alex Georgiev gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Kevin Shattenkirk (knee), Ondrej Pavelec (knee), Steven Kampfer (hand), David Desharnais (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: People survive their Rangers drinking games.

Game time is 8pm. Be sure to follow on our Snapchat for in-game shenanigans.

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