The Rangers are hosting Anaheim tonight in what I’m calling a battle for non-Ottawa bad. I say this because the Rangers just overtook Anaheim as the worst shot share team in the league, non-Senators division. Both teams give up tons of shots to the opposition, so this may be a battle of who does it less bad.
It’s worth re-stating that this is a rebuild. The Rangers are not going to be a good team. We knew that from the get-go. Perhaps that 9-1-1 run spoiled a few people into unrealistic expectations. It happens. That run was fun. Now, in the dog days of the season, the cream rises to the top, and the Rangers sink to the bottom.
The only thing we can ask for is consistent effort. It doesn’t look like we’ve gotten that lately though. Team defense would be wonderful. Baby steps.
Ducks Lines
Rickard Rakell-Ryan Getzlaf-Pontus Aberg
Andrew Cogliano-Ryan Kesler-Brian Gibbons
Isac Lundestrom-Adam Henrique-Jakub Silfverberg
Ben Street-Sam Steel-Joseph Blandisi
Hampus Lindholm-Jacob Larsson
Cam Fowler-Andy Welinski
Marcus Pettersson-Brandon Montour
PP1: Rakell-Getzlaf-Henrique-Steel-Fowler
PP2: Cogliano-Kesler-Gibbons-Lindholm-Montour
Chad Johnson gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Filip Chytil –Mika Zibanejad–Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider–Kevin Hayes-Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey–Brett Howden–Vlad Namestnikov
Boo Nieves–Lias Andersson–Ryan Strome
Brady Skjei–Tony DeAngelo
Marc Staal–Neal Pionk
Brendan Smith-Adam McQuaid
PP1: Zibanejad-Hayes-Kreider-Zuccarello-Pionk
PP2: Howden-Chytil-Vesey-Buchnevich-DeAngelo
Alex Georgiev gets the start.
Scratches/Injuries: Kevin Shattenkirk (shoulder), Cody McLeod (hand), Jesper Fast (upper body)
Crazy Prediction: Team defense shows up.
Game time is 7pm.
Share:
More About:Game Thread