AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

The Rangers are back in action tonight, their first game in 2019, against the Penguins. The Blueshirts are getting points and winning despite looking relatively horrid defensively. That is solely because of the play of their goaltenders, specifically Henrik Lundqvist. It would be lovely if the Rangers actually played defense, but that’s becoming a pipe dream at this point.

As for the #LoseForHughes campaign, the Blueshirts are currently 19th in the league. Based on team quality of those behind them, I would expect another four or five teams can surpass the Rangers. But they’ve banked enough points to stay out of the bottom tier of the league. They certainly have been playing like a bottom tier team though. Right now it’s the Lundqvist, Kreider, Zibanejad, and Hayes show.

Penguins Lines:

Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Dominik Simon-Evgeni Malkin–Patric Hornqvist
Tanner Pearson-Derick Brassard-Phil Kessel
Zachary Aston-Reese-Matt Cullen-Riley Sheahan

Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-Jack Johnson
Olli Maata-Juuso Riikola

PP1: Crosby-Kessel-Malkin-Hornqvist-Letang
PP2: Rust-Guentzel-Brassard-Pettersson-Riikola

Matt Murray gets the start.

Rangers Lines (presumed – unreleased at time of this writing)

Chris KreiderMika ZibanejadJesper Fast
Vlad Namestnikov–Kevin HayesMats Zuccarello
Boo NievesBrett Howden–Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy VeseyRyan StromeCody McLeod

Brady SkjeiTony DeAngelo
Marc StaalNeal Pionk
Brendan SmithAdam McQuaid

PP1: Zibanejad-Hayes-Kreider-Zuccarello-Namestnikov
PP2: Howden-Vesey-Buchnevich-Pionk-Shattenkirk

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.

Scratches/Injuries: Fredrik Claesson (healthy), Filip Chytil (healthy)

Crazy Prediction: Pierre doesn’t mention a college during the broadcast.

Game time is 7pm.

Share: 

More About: