Game Preview: Rangers v. Thrashers
The Rangers are on the road tonight to take on the Atlanta Thrashers. The puck drops at 7pm and can be seen locally on MSG (or SPSO if you live in Atlanta), or on Game Channel 5 on the Center Ice Package.
1:20 PM Update: Eric here. Steve Valiquette will be starting in goal tonight. According to Steve Zipay, “Coach John Tortorella cited the stretch of three games in four days and four in six, including Saturday’s afternoon game in Pittsburgh, for the decision.”
The last time we saw our Rangers, they were grinding out a somewhat boring 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Like I said to Eric after the game, there was about 10 minutes of excitement and 2 and a half hours of dear-God-let-this-end-I’ve-fallen-asleep-twice. Seriously, I didn’t even know there was a 5-on-3 until I read something about it later – that’s how little I was able to pay attention to that game. And to think, we played that system for most of this season. How did we survive?!
One of the few things I remember from Monday night's game.
Although there were some high points: two highlights were Sean Avery’s first fight as a 2nd-time Ranger against Cal Clutterbuck, who seriously has one of the best names I’ve ever heard, and Colton Orr’s beatdown on Owen Nolan, who I believe is around 873 years old. While I’m not quite sure how I feel about Orrsie laying the smack down on an old man who probably didn’t know where he was to begin with, I like a fight, and I like when my guy wins. So it gets a thumbs-up.
On the docket tonight is a team with very little hope of making the playoffs, but who aren’t going to just let us roll over them. They’ve got nothing to lose, whereas the Rangers have everything to lose. The Rangers are still going to have to bring it, and bring it hard to get the 2 points tonight. If they can’t beat this team, then they don’t deserve to make the playoffs.
The offense has been picking up lately, with the game against Ottawa being the exception. However, the power play is still in the toilet, though it has improved very much under Tortorella. The penalty kill is still kickin’ ass, so that’s always something to feel good about.
Michal Roszival is still out with a lower body injury, and Mike Sauer will play tonight in his place.
I’ll update with probable lines as they become available.
Photo Credit: (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Numbers breakdown:
Thrashers record: 30-38-6 – 7-3-0 in their last 10 - 14-19-2 at home
Rangers record: 39-27-8 – 7-3-0 in their last 10 - 16-16-4 on the road
Standings Situation:
Thrashers: 66 points – 13th place in the East -8 points behind Ottawa, 2 ahead of Tampa Bay – 8 games remaining
Rangers: 84 points – 7th place in the East -2 points behind Pittsburgh, 3 ahead of Montreal – 8 games remaining
Average goals scored in a game:
Thrashers: 2.97
Rangers: 2.42
Average goals allowed in a game:
Thrashers: 3.43
Rangers: 2.62
Power Play
Thrashers: 20.2%
Rangers: 14.2%
Penalty Kill:
Thrashers: 75.2%
Rangers: 87.5%
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:
