Game 41
Rangers at Flyers – 8:00 PM NBCSN
The Rangers stunk so bad at MSG last night that they’ve been chased out of the city to a city worthy of their stench: Philadelphia. It’s very disconcerting that they’ve played so poorly at times, especially since this is the halfway point of the season.
Everyone really liked E3’s reviews, so I am going to take a page out of the NHL’s marketing playbook and change it back to my review. Clearly, this is a HAV.
Tonight’s possible lineup for the Rangers (26-13-1):
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey-Kevin Hayes-Michael Grabner
JT Miller-Oscar Lindberg-Jesper Fast
Nicklas Jensen-Marek Hrivik-Brandon Pirri
Ryan McDonagh-Brady Skjei
Adam Clendening-Kevin Klein
Nick Holden-Dan Girardi
The big news, of course, is that Marc Staal is out tonight and Saturday with an upper body injury. The Rangers have been pretty forthcoming this year with their injuries so it’s a bit odd to go with the “upper body” label and saying he’s definitely out Saturday as well. It could be an even longer absence.
Interestingly,Brady Skjei moves up to the right side with McDonagh, a pair that was particularly strong in the playoffs. It’s a bit of a surprise, however, as the left handed Staal is coming out of the lineup for the right handed Clendening. To then also move the left handed Skjei to the right side is not a change I expected.
Lundqvist gets the start tonight. He should be well rested after being off last night. What’s that? He was in? Oh no.
Rick Nash is getting closer to returning but it remains to be seen if he comes back on Saturday against Columbus. There are still no definitive timetables on Buchnevich or Zibanejad. Buchnevich supposedly just needs to regain his conditioning and he might get it via a conditioning stint in the AHL during the bye* week.
For the Flyers (20-14-5),the story is about their recent struggles after their ten game win streak. They now sit only 3 points ahead of Tampa and Toronto for the final wild card spot. Toronto holds two games in hand. Steve Mason gets the start.
Don’t forget to tell everyone you know and to follow me on Twitter @rangersreport2. And don’t forget to vote for your three stars after the game!
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479 responses to “Rangers at Flyers…It’s Go Time!”
Salmon Joe
Slatapus
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Grabber – where’s Grabby?!?
Pirriwinkle
Jensen – The Great Dane
Rantaa Claus
If we get Tedi Ousness (savanagh, Georgia) he’ll be Limbs and Outward Flourishes.
Clothesline to string: “You’re an ordinary piece of string.”
String: “Nope. I’m a frayed knot.”
Troutface
Henk played very well; very quick pipe to pipe, not lunging at puck
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Was ‘forced’ by wifey to watch 2 more episodes of House of Cards; FU be one bad brutha; evil genius so missed 3rd.
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Everyone including Mason thought Haze was going to pass…both times
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Clendening looks good, but what do I know.
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4 out of 5; win Saturday and then off for 5 days for extended MLK break
The Marshmallow, Nashed Potato, The Good One, Nick Rash, etc etc etc
Beat the Meatles
Troutface is not pretty.
http://gph.is/2b4BV6N
Just read many of last night’s comments, thanks for some of the knicknames!
Catcher is a new one, machine one I never remember.
E3 review not needed after last night’s team F’it. Doodie, love your reviews as well.
http://i.giphy.com/l3vR2JQvWhFiLLVWo.gif
Jensen – Hamlet (Prince of Denmark)
Zuccarello will always be LINK to me (Little Italian Norwegian Kid).
Good morning from the sunny Florida, beetches! Anyone near or around Naples want to say hi?
Did cccp just say nipples?
It’s a balmy -32 Celsius here this morning…anyone want to say hello?
Should be link ray
Due to his laser ray passing
LOL @ beetches. First time I’ve READ a Russian accent.
Grabner has been one hell of a steal. And amidst all of the injuries and goalie whoas I am quite happy to see both Kreider and Hayes on pace for their first 50-60 point seasons. Especially Hayes. He cooled off for a bit but he’s really shown that he can be a player in this league and he’s been really important to this team with Zibanejad out. Two big question marks from the long offseason answered!
-32 Celsius?! Where the puck do you live?! North of North pole?!
HELLO WICKY! (andre the giant voice)
Jeez! I was complaining because it’s -1 here today – positively balmy compared to that wicky!
Good game last night. After surviving the first period, the Rangers counter-punched well.
Skjei looked pretty good paired with McDonagh.
When Staal gets back then why not sit Girardi for a game or two? Though I thought Girardi played pretty well last night.
Fast is a guy you want on the ice to hold a lead, but boy does he struggle in the offensive part of the game. It’s not his skills, either. It’s his decision making.
Vesey with Fast and Lindberg is a waste. Maybe when Nash comes back they can at least put him on a line with somebody that has a smidgen of offensive talent.
Kreider and Grabner on pace for 32 goals for the season. I think Kreider makes or surpasses that mark. Not sure about Grabner, but if he doesn’t score another goal this season he was steal.
Hanka, Hanka kept the team in the game in that first period. They could have been down by 3 or 4 if he was having one of his off nights.
So who plays in goal Saturday against the unbeatable Blue Jackets?
LOL James… you kno, I vent to Florida to haf some sun for my skeen… sveem in zee ocean and eat deeleesiouz Kuban cousin 🙂
NEW POST
Sam = Rushmore
A legendary career, nose and forehead worthy of a mountainside display
-32 celsius = zero fahrenheit
New post? Where?
zero fahrenheit = -32 celsius