New York Rangers Try To Avoid Fourth Straight Loss against Carolina Hurricanes

On January 2, the New York Rangers hosted the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden in a game that they were defeated by the score of 2-1 in overtime.

Well what do you know? Almost a month later, the Blueshirts are faced with the same problems they dealt with in that very game, and by that I think we all know I am referring to goal scoring.

New York has now lost three straight, only netting two goals in that span, and both of them have come from the same player (Artem Anisimov). The Rangers are fortunate enough to find themselves in seventh place in the East despite such a struggle, but are only three points out of 13th.

The Hurricanes are sitting in 15th in the East, 29th in the league, but are 5-5-0 in their last ten games. This is a last place team that is on a bit of a hot streak.

Based on history, that fact would lead someone to believe that the Blueshirts will come out flat, underestimate their opponent, and eventually end up forfeiting two points in the standings that in tonight’s game. It doesn’t matter where any team in this league is ranked when they play the Rangers, because really, that doesn’t seem to affect John Tortorella’s club.


Rangers Projected Lineup

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

Staal - Rozsival
Del Zotto - Girardi
Redden - Gilroy

Lundqvist

Scratches: Erik Christensen, Donald Brashear (confirmed)

Henrik Lundqvist will be looking to rebound from, what I labeled a “so-so” performance on Monday against the Penguins.

Two of the three goals allowed (fourth was an empty netter) should have been stopped by Hank, but hey, how much can you expect from the guy, he is the only reason we are in the playoff picture. Lundqvist has been generally solid when facing the ‘Canes so I do not think there is much too worry about.

As reported this morning, Ales Kotalik will be back in the lineup tonight after being a healthy scratch in six straight games. Tortorella’s intentions with this move are to welcome Ales’ big shot from the point back onto the powerplay, which was 0 for 3 with the man advantage against the Penguins. I don’t see it helping much, because lately, Kotalik has done nothing but turn the puck over at the blueline.

I believe tonight may just be the night where Marian Gaborik is able to break his slump. Marian has just one goal in his last ten, but looked very good on Monday. He was skating, had the puck often and had five shots on goal. The Blueshirts desperately need him to break out of this thing; it has brought the overall offensive production down drastically.

The defense will also be looking for a better outing tonight after a rough game on Monday. Gap control was a huge problem in that tilt and led to at least one of the four goals as well as plenty other Pittsburgh chances. This Rangers blueline is almost as inconsistent as Tortorella’s forward combinations—I said almost.

Hurricanes Projected Lineup

Whitney - Staal - Jokinen
Tlusty - Sutter - LaRose
Samsonov - Cullen - Kostopolous
Brind'Amour - Yelle - Dwyer

Ward - Gleason
Wallin - Alberts
Pitkanen - Carson

Ward

In-game tweets at twitter.com/RangersTribune .