What Will the New York Rangers Shootout Lineup Look Like?

Tonight the New York Rangers will host the Atlanta Thrashers in their first meeting of the season. Last season the Rangers and Thrashers met four times with Atlanta winning three of the four games. Of the three wins for Atlanta, two of them came in the shootout.

When the Rangers and Thrashers play each other, they have a tendency to go the distance (into a shootout). In fact, the Rangers and Thrashers have each played four shootout games in the past two seasons. Half the time they played each other.

The sad part is that the Rangers have lost in all four shootout contests.

Their goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, is arguably one of the best, if not the best, goalies when it comes to shootouts. The Rangers forwards have not been too bad either. Last season the Rangers won three of seven shootouts they were in, the worst loss coming in the last game of the season to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tonight the Rangers will play another game against the Thrashers, and predicting a shootout in this game would be a very wise prediction. In this slide show there are five Ranger forwards that I feel are best when it comes to the shootout. In the last slide will be a predicted shootout lineup for the New York Rangers.

At the end feel free to comment below with your shootout lineup prediction.

NOTE: Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal and Chris Drury are not included in this slide show due to injury.

5. Todd White

Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images

KANATA, ON - OCTOBER 02: Todd White #12 of the New York Rangers carries the puck up ice during a game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on October 2, 2010 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. The Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Rangers 8-5. (

Shootout ratio (Goals to Shots):

Three (Goals)-for-Eight (Shots)

Shootout scoring percentage:

37.5 percent

The veteran forward may not fit into the Rangers current roster, but in his career he has been excellent in the shootout. He even scored in the shootout against the Rangers last season. Surprisingly enough, White has quick hands and a quick release when it comes to the shootout.  He may not be part of the Rangers three-man shootout lineup, but if the penalty shot period goes past three shots I’d expect White to be part of it.

4. Ryan Callahan

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UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 11: Ryan Callahan #24 of the New York Rangers skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on October 11, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders won 6-4. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Shootout ratio:

1-for-5

Shootout percentage:

20 percent

Callahan is a very energetic player and he has a lot of speed. He may not have very quick hands but his speed and quick release make for a good shootout combination. Callahan may be part of the Rangers three-man shootout lineup, but there are three other players that top his shootout skill. Callahan would be another late shootout option.

3. Derek Stepan

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KANATA, ON - OCTOBER 02: Derek Stepan #57 of the New York Rangers takes a slap shot during warmup before a game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on October 2, 2010 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. The Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Rang

Shootout ratio:

0-for-0

Shootout percentage:

0 percent

Young Derek Stepan has yet to take a regular season shootout attempt, but, as you may recall, he was chosen in the preseason to compete in a shootout against the Ottawa Senators. He scored on his lone shootout attempt, making about five different moves before sliding the puck past Ottawa’s goalie (Brian Elliot). Stepan has extremely quick hands, and he has the ability to make a goaltender look foolish. He should definitely be included in the Rangers' three-man shootout lineup.

2. Alexander Frolov

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 15: Goalie Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a pad save while Alexander Frolov #24 of the Los Angeles Kings looks for a rebound in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Pl

Shootout ratio:

8-for-22

Shootout percentage:

36.4 percent

Frolov was one of the many offseason additions of the New York Rangers, added to the team as scoring support for superstar Marian Gaborik. But Frolov is not only a skilled goal scorer. Frolov is very good in the shootout, as you can see from his stats above, and will be a key addition in the shootout for the Rangers this season. Frolov’s quick hands and fast shot make him a shootout dynamo.

1. Erik Christensen

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Erik Christensen #26 of the New York Rangers warms up before a preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on September 29, 2010 in New York, New York. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Shootout ratio:

18-for-35

Shootout percentage:

51.4 percent

Christensen is the tenth best active NHL player when it comes to scoring in the shootout. He has an extremely unique skill, which is the ability to score in the shootout. A skill much needed by the Rangers. He is a force when it comes to penalty shot period, as he has scored over 50 percent of the time.

His impressive numbers make him the best shootout shooter on the team. He has quick hands, and a very quick release. He also uses breakaway speed to move in fast on the goaltender. He will be a key part to the Rangers three-man shootout lineup when a shootout finally comes along.

Shootout Lineup Predictions:

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 30: Marian Gaborik #10 and Erik Christensen #26 of the New York Rangers during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 30, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by

First: Erik Christensen

With Christensen's shootout skill, he would be the right choice to begin the penalty shot period.

Second: Derek Stepan

Having the youngster go second would relieve him from the pressures of having to shoot in the final shootout stage. If Christensen can score on his shot, Stepan could put the opposing team on the brink of losing if he scores.

Third: Alexander Frolov

He is the second best shooter on the team when it comes to the shootout, and he can be relied on to score the potential winning goal in the three slot.

Extras:

Todd White, Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Michael Del Zotto, Marc Staal and Matt Gilroy would be excellent additions if the shootout goes longer than three shots.

 When the Injured Players Return:

First: Marian Gaborik

Second: Erik Christensen

Third: Alexander Frolov

Extras:

Vinny Prospal, Chris Drury (added to list above)