Game Preview: Rangers v. Predators
The Rangers are on the road tonight to take on the Nashville Predators. The puck drops at 8pm and can be seen locally on MSG, or on Game Channel 12 on the Center Ice Package.
So, Monday night sucked. Once again, the Rangers couldn’t finish, and didn’t make a blip on the scoreboard, getting shut out 3-0 by Carolina, and fell into 9th place in the standings.
Yeah, this was pretty much Monday night.
So tonight they’re on the road to take on yet another team on a hot streak who has been extremely dominant at home, so take your Pepto before the game, and I’d say again during the 2nd intermission. Who knows, the boys could pull out a win, they know that their backs are against the wall here, and hopefully they’ll get their shit together and play the way they’ve been playing lately, which was resulting in, gasp!, wins.
In other news, if the Rangers win tonight, Henrik Lundqvist becomes the first goalie in NHL history to start their career with 4 consecutive 30-win seasons. Woo! (Yes, I know, he has the advantage of the shootout, which goalies in the past didn’t, but if the NHL is going to act like Marty Broduer is ending world hunger as he approaches Patrick Roy’s win total without talking about it, then I could give a shit about taking away from Henrik’s record because of the shootout advantage.)
Of course, this may not happen tonight, since he’s apparently spent the last week or so getting very well acquainted with the inside of the locker room toilet at the Garden. But, if he made it through
Actual in-game photograph. Little known fact: Henrik Lundqvist turns into a black lab between periods. Seriously.
Sunday’s game against Boston while, brace yourselves, barfing between periods and needing IV fluids after the game, he should ok tonight. But you never know. I nominate Aaron Voros to hold the barf bucket on the bench; not like he’s good for much else.
Anywhoo, the Rangers need to pick it up and get going if they want to make the playoffs. They looked pretty sloppy Monday night against Carolina, and they need to get back to playing smart, aggressive hockey if they’re going to finish in the top 8.
I’ll do my best to update with lines when/if they become available.
What we do know is that Barfbag McGillicutty will be in net for the Rangers, and Pekke Rinne will be in goal for the Preds.
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Numbers breakdown:
Predators record: 33-29-5 – 6-2-2 in their last 10 - 21-11-3 at home
Rangers record: 34-25-8 – 4-4-2 in their last 10 - 14-15-4 on the road
Average goals scored in a game:
Predators: 2.49
Rangers: 2.36
Average goals allowed in a game:
Predators: 2.72
Rangers: 2.66
Power Play
Predators: 14%
Rangers: 14.4%
Penalty Kill:
Predators: 84.5%
Rangers: 87.2%
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:
