After yesterday’s no-show in Philly, the Rangers need to right the ship this afternoon in Washington. Yesterday’s loss was a little rough, but it was bound to happen given some of the other games the Rangers had played. The key is not losing multiple games in a row, as the Rangers need to bank points and get on win streaks. This is a big chance to start a win streak, as after this two game set against the Caps, the Rangers get Buffalo twice.
The next two games, and then the four games against the Penguins and Islanders, will give us a glimpse into the Rangers future this season. If they come out with four or five wins in those six games –and two wins against Buffalo– then this team is poised to make a run for the playoffs. Especially since they get the Devils for four in a row after. But anything less, and it might be curtains for the Rangers.
Tightening up the defense and being less cute and more effective on offense will go a long way today. They don’t have the best track record on afternoon games. So the Rangers will need to buck that trend today.
Caps Lines
Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana-Evgeny Kuznetsov-TJ Oshie
Connor Sheary-Lars Eller-Richard Panik
Carl Hagelin-Nic Dowd-Garnet Hathaway
Brendan Dillon-John Carlson
Zdeno Chara-Nick Jensen
Dmitry Orlov-Justin Schultz
PP1: Vrana-Backstrom-Oshie-Ovechkin-Carlson
PP2: Eller-Kuznetsov-Wilson-Orlov-Schultz
Ilya Samsonov gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich
Artemi Panarin–Ryan Strome–Kaapo Kakko
Alexis Lafreniere–Filip Chytil–Julien Gauthier
Phil Di Giuseppe-Kevin Rooney–Colin Blackwell
Ryan Lindgren–Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Jacob Trouba
Libor Hajek–Brendan Smith
PP1: Strome-Zibanejad-Panarin-Kreider-Fox
PP2: Kakko-Buchnevich-Chytil-Lafreniere-Miller
Keith Kinkaid gets the start.
Scratches/Injuries: Jack Johnson (sports hernia), Brett Howden (COVID protocol)
Crazy Prediction: A close game.
Game time is 12pm.
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