Pregame: New York Rangers Seek Vengeance Taking on Philadelphia Flyers

The New York Rangers, who have scored a combined 14 goals in the last two games, will be seeking revenge when entering Philadelphia to take on the Atlantic Division rival Flyers tonight at the Wachovia Center.

In their last meeting on December 30, Philadelphia came to Madison Square Garden and embarrassed the Rangers with a 6-0 slaughtering. Right now, the Blueshirts have been victorious in two straight and find themselves in sixth place in the East, one point behind the fifth place Senators. The Flyers are right outside of the playoff borderline, placed ninth in the conference. They are 6-3-1 in their last ten.

Yet again, no change to the lineup by Head Coach John Tortorella, but it is not like you would expect any after the two magnificent performances the Rangers have managed to put up this week.

The fact that Ales Kotalik will be a scratch for the fourth straight contest is another factor that comes into play when looking at this morning’s rumor stating that he has requested a trade. If he doesn’t want to play here, then Torts simply won’t play him.


Rangers Predicted Lineup

Prospal - Dubinsky - Gaborik
Drury - Christensen - Callahan
Higgins - Anisimov - Lisin
Avery - Boyle - Voros

Staal - Rozsival
Del Zotto - Girardi
Redden - Gilroy

Lundqvist

Scratches: Ales Kotalik, Donald Brashear

Henrik Lundqvist, although it was an overall offensive night for the Rangers, was great on Tuesday against the Bolts. He made some great saves including the robbery of Lecavalier in the first period, stopping Steven Stamkos on a breakaway, and making key saves on the penalty-kill as well.

The King’s game was impressive, and has been impressive all month. Tonight, he will try and continue his dominance when going up against Philly netminder Ray Emery across the way.

Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal, and Brandon Dubinsky are three individuals that have been red hot for the Rangers on the first line. The trio has a combined 16 points in the past two blowouts of the Canadiens and the Lightning, but it is their forecheck that has been very noticeable.

They are holding onto the puck for extended periods of time without losing possession. This is unlike the offense we were used to earlier in the season where it was one and done when just one savable shot was put on goal before the forecheck was terminated by the opposition.

This goes for the entire squad, not just the fourth line. The passing and cycling within the offensive zone has been breathtaking. Even the fourth line consisting of Avery, Boyle, and Aaron Voros was moving the puck around well in the Tampa tilt, as we saw on Voros’ late third period tally on Tuesday.

This is where the Rangers have lacked during the dark months of November and December when they were just unable to put the puck in the net.

Neutral zone play has improved majorly as well, and credit goes to the defensemen on this one.

Tortorella’s system is in full effect only if the defense is contributing on the offense, and the smart play between the bluelines has saw the D playing much better as a group. The outlet passes from the back-end, especially from rookie Michael Del Zotto, have been crucial to the numerous odd-man rushes we have seen lately.


Flyers Projected Lineup
 
Gagne - Richards - Giroux
Hartnell - Carter - Briere
Van Riemsdyk - Powe - Asham
Carcillo - Betts - Laperriere

Carle - Pronger
Timonen - Coburn
Ole - Tollefsen

Emery

As always, game updates will be available all night long from myself at twitter.com/RangersTribune . Jump in on the conversation there, it is fun.