Rangers-Penguins: Scouting Report for Feb. 12, 2010

With the New York Rangers currently on the outside looking in with regards to the playoffs, the Penguins are all ready to retake the Atlantic division lead.

The Rangers seem to be reeling from their losses in recent weeks despite Henrik Lundquist standing on his head. King Henrik has returned to regular form over the last few starts, but The Rangers continue to squander chances, and struggle on offense.

The real question coming into this game is whether Marian Gaborik will be starting, as he is day-to-day with a laceration on his right leg, which he sustained in practice, and runs the risk of missing his second straight game.

The Penguins, following Sidney Crosby, have outscored the Rangers 33-14 while holding seven consecutive wins over the Blueshirts.

Keys to the game:

If the Rangers can manage to play a disciplined game defensively, they have a good chance of keping it close. Unfortunately, they showed little signs of team discipline in their last game against the Nashville Predators, a 2 -1 loss, on Wednesday. Michael Del Zotto was called for four minutes in penalties, the second of which was an unsportsmanlike conduct for arguing the first penalty, that lead to the Preds' winning goal.

Not surprisingly, Del Zotto spent the remainder of the second period watching from the end of the bench.

If the Penguins continue to dominate the way they have since Jan. 11 (a 4 -3 loss to the Devils), they will be able to overwhelm the Rangers as so many other teams have done this season. Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury have thrived against the Rangers. Fleury is 13-1-1 against them at the Igloo in Pittsburgh.

My prediction:

All the Pens are going to have to do is show up and control the game from the opening face off. Lundquist will make this a close game, but his efforts will be wasted.

This game should be a walk in the park for the Pens.  

Final score: Pens 4, Rangers 2

Note: 

The Rangers traded a 2010 conditional draft pick to the San Jose Sharks for Jody Shelley.

Minnesota and Chicago finalized a trade before the deadline: Former Rangers defense-man Kim Johnsson and Nick Leddy go to Chicago for Cam Barker. Barker was going to be moved regardless to make cap space for the Blackhawks.