Game 33: Make it two in a row

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers begin their short road trip tonight in Minnesota to take on the Wild. Jarret Stoll will be in the lineup for Minnesota tonight, his first game since being waived by the Rangers earlier this week. Brady Skjei will also remain in the lineup while Kevin Klein is on the mend. Dan Girardi is not on this trip either.

The Rangers have –for the most part– played better hockey as of late. They’ve been pushing possession and showing overall better process. The games in Calgary and Edmonton were awful, but they haven’t been hanging their goalies out to dry as much as in the past. The shooting percentage crash is in full effect though, which means the process isn’t always breeding results.

That said, you want to see better process, because there will be better results once the SH% crash subsides. Less defensive blunders and coverage fails, more back checking, and more shots at the net. Control the play.

Wild Systems

Under Mike Yeo, the Wild run a 1-2-2 forecheck which they use aggressively or conservatively depending on game situation. In the defensive zone they play a zone D pretty much exclusively. The Wild prefer to attack the blue line with speed so the Rangers are going to have to be good defending the rush tonight and not leaving Hank on an island. On special teams, the Wild run an umbrella power play and a diamond force penalty kill.

Wild Lines

Zach Parise-Mikael Granlund-Jason Pominville
Tomas Vanek-Mikko Koivu-Jason Zucker
Nino Niederreiter-Charlie Coyle-Justin Fontaine
Chris Porter-Jarret Stoll-Ryan Carter

Ryan Suter-Jared Spurgeon
Marco Scandella-Jonas Brodin
Nate Prosser-Matt Dumba

PP1: Parise-Koivu-Pomminville-Vanek-Suter
PP2: Fontaine-Koivu-Niederreiter-Scandella-Dumba

PK: Koivu, Parise, Granlund, Fontaine, Coyle, Suter, Brodin, Scandella, Dumba, Spurgeon

Devan Dubnyk gets the start.

Rangers Lines (Unconfirmed)

Rick Nash–Derick Brassard–Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider–J.T. Miller-Jesper Fast
Oscar Lindberg–Kevin Hayes–Viktor Stalberg
Tanner Glass–Dominic Moore–Emerson Etem

Marc Staal–Ryan McDonagh
Brady Skjei–Dan Boyle
Keith Yandle–Dylan McIlrath

PP1: Nash-Zuccarello-Brassard-Boyle-McDonagh
PP2: Kreider-Hayes-Lindberg-Yandle-Miller

PK: Nash, Lindberg, Moore, Fast, McDonagh, Staal, Boyle

Antti Raanta is in net.

Scratches/Injuries: Derek Stepan (ribs), Dan Girardi (knee), Kevin Klein (abdominal strain)

Crazy Prediction: All four lines score.

Be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to the game. Game time is 8pm on MSG. All gifs will be on nyrgifs.com.