Photo: Noah K. Murray / USA Today Sports
The PDO crash train is chugging along at full speed, and the Rangers have looked pretty terrible during this run. It’s not the puck possession that’s been killing them, since they’ve been playing better on that front, it’s the defense. They are blowing assignments, not back checking, and just panicking with the puck. Part of it is due to the injuries to Derek Stepan and Kevin Klein, but most of it is due to overall poor play throughout the season.
Stepan should be returning tonight –no confirmation has been made yet– so that’s one less problem to worry about. However the bigger problem still exists in that the Rangers defense is just not getting the job done. This is primarily a blue line issue, but forwards are blowing assignments as well, as we saw last night. I’m ok with the occasional mistake, everyone makes them, but when they become routine, it’s time for a change.
Something else that needs to be changed: This dump and chase garbage. This is new for the Rangers. It’s still unclear if this is a coaching directive or the players.
Jets Systems
The Jets play a 1-2-2 forecheck which can be used aggressively or conservatively depending on game situation (e.g., puck location, matchup, time left on the clock, score, etc.). In the defensive zone, the Jets play a zone defense, with five skaters getting sticks and bodies in lanes.
On special teams, the Jets play an umbrella PP and will look to crash the net after a shot. On the PK, the Jets play a rotating box and look to defend homeplate. For more on the systems, click here.
Jets Lines
Andrew Ladd-Bryan Little-Blake Wheeler
Mathieu Perreault-Mark Schiefele-Drew Stafford
Chris Thorburn-Alex Burmistrov-Nikolaj Ehlers
Matt Halischuk-Andrew Copp-Joel Armia
Toby Enstrom-Tyler Myers
Jacob Trouba-Dustin Byfuglien
Mark Stuart-Ben Chiarot
Connor Hellebuyck gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Rick Nash–Derick Brassard–Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider–Derek Stepan-Jesper Fast
J.T. Miller–Kevin Hayes–Emerson Etem
Tanner Glass–Dominic Moore–Viktor Stalberg
Marc Staal–Ryan McDonagh
Chris Summers–Dan Boyle
Keith Yandle–Dylan McIlrath
PP1: Nash-Zuccarello-Brassard-Boyle-McDonagh
PP2: Kreider-Hayes-Stepan-Yandle-Miller
PK: Nash, Stepan, Moore, Fast, McDonagh, Staal, Boyle
Henrik Lundqvist is in net.
Scratches/Injuries: Dan Girardi (knee), Kevin Klein (abdominal strain), Oscar Lindberg (healthy)
Crazy Prediction: A win?
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.
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