Game 56: Chasing 400

The story of tonight’s game isn’t going to be the potential for five wins in a row. It’s not going to be about keeping pace in a Metro Division that has four of the top five teams (in terms of points in the standings) in the NHL. It’s going to be about Henrik Lundqvist, who sits at 399 career wins, and is facing a Colorado Avalanche team that is worst in the NHL. The stage is set for career win #400.

Of course, that means this could be a trap game for the Rangers. Winning four in a row, now facing the league’s worst team at home. We’ve seen this before. But perhaps the chance to get Hank to 400 and the need to keep pace with the other three teams in their division will keep them from falling into the trap. What we do know, is we are watching a generational talent in Lundqvist, who is finally starting to find his game. And perhaps, just at the right time.

Avs Systems

Jared Bednar is the new guy in Denver. I honestly have no idea what style he has the Avs playing, nor did I catch the last time these two teams faced off. For what it’s worth, preseason reports had him running an aggressive, push the pace style. I’d expect the Avs to try to push the play quickly up the ice, using their forward speed to try to catch the slow Rangers defense flat footed. It’s worked before against the Rangers, but it remains to be seen if a team with little depth, like the Avs, can exploit those same weaknesses.

Avs Lines

Gabriel Landeskog-Nathan MacKinnon-Mikko Rantanen
Mikhail Grigorenko-Matt Duchene-Matt Nieto
Blake Comeau-John Mitchell-Jarome Iginla
Andreas Martinsen-Carl Soderberg-Joe Colborne

Francois Beauchemin-Nikita Zadorov
Mark Barberio-Cody Goloubef
Fedor Tyutin-Patrick Wiercioch

PP1: Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen-Zadorov-Barnerio
PP2: Iginla-Duchene-Grigorenko-Nieto-Beauchemin

Calvin Pickard gets the start.

Rangers Lines 

Chris Kreider–Mika Zibanejad–Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey–Derek Stepan–Rick Nash
Michael Grabner–Kevin Hayes–JT Miller
Pavel Buchnevich–Oscar Lindberg–Jesper Fast

Ryan McDonagh–Nick Holden
Marc Staal–Adam Clendening
Brady Skjei–Kevin Klein

PP1: Zibanejad-Buchnevich-Nash-Miller-McDonagh
PP2: Stepan-Miller-Kreider-Zuccarello-Holden

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start.

Injuries/Scratches:  Brandon Pirri (healthy), Matt Puempel (healthy), Dan Girardi (ankle)

Crazy Prediction: MSG isn’t empty due to the snow.

Game time is 7pm. Gifs are on @blueseatblogs. Be sure to follow our snapchat (blueseatblogs) too!