Game Preview: Rangers v. Avalanche
The Rangers are at home tonight to take on the Colorado Avalanche. The puck drops at 7pm and can be seen locally on WPIX, or Game Channel 8 on the Center Ice Package.
Not really any good ones from the game the other night - but check out the beard on Dawes! Where the hell did that come from?
So the Rangers are playing the worst team in the Western Conference tonight. Although, to be fair, pretty much every team in the West has a shot at making the playoffs. But they’re still in last place in the conference, so I’m going to focus on that. The Avs have lost 3 in a row, but then again, so have we.
Anywhoo, the Rangers CAN.NOT.SCORE. Period. The end. They just can’t do it. I don’t know what the hell their problem is, everyone keeps saying it’s cause they’re nervous, they’re under pressure, they’re gripping their sticks too tight, whatever. All I know is that this team could walk into the Bunny Ranch with hundred dollar bills taped to their bodies, and end up leaving feeling rather, ahem, blue. So let’s hope that changes tonight.
This is Torts’ third game as head coach, and so far all they’ve come out with is one point in the standings. I am optimistic, though. The team looks faster, more upbeat, and they’re doing more and more things right with every game. All they need to do is score! Getting one goal a game is NOT going to cut it, because Hank’s not going to be pitching shut-outs every night. I’m sure he’d like to, considering he only has 2 this season, and this time last year, he had 8. But I digress.
I’ve got high hopes for tonight, which is rare lately, so let’s hope I’m not going to be terribly disappointed.
Lines for tonight, courtesy of Steve Zipay:
The lines:
Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev
Dubinsky-Drury-Callahan
Dawes-Korpikoski-Prucha
Sjostrom-Betts-Orr
Defense:
Rozsival-Redden
Staal-Girardi
Mara-Kalinin
(AP Photo/John Dunn)
Numbers breakdown:
Avalanche record: 28-33-1 – 3-7-0 in their last 10 - 11-19-1 on the road
Rangers record: 31-24-8 – 2-5-3 in their last 10 - 18-10-4 at home
Average goals scored in a game:
Avalanche: 2.58
Rangers: 2.29(Back in last place again!!)
Average goals allowed in a game:
Avalanche: 3.11
Rangers: 2.68
Power Play
Avalanche: 16.5%
Rangers: 13.8%
Penalty Kill:
Avalanche: 79.2%
Rangers: 87.3%
Stats from NHL.com
About the author: Rory is a recent college graduate from central New Jersey majoring in History and PR. A Ranger fan all her life, the bane of her existence is the New Jersey Devils, and she harbors a severe hatred for Martin Brodeur. Her favorite current Rangers are Henrik Lundqvist, Sean Avery, and Steve Valiquette, and her favorite all-time Rangers are Mike Richter and Jeff Beukeboom. Related posts:
