Rangers vs Sharks: Game-day Preview

Time: 5 p.m.

Location: Madison Square Garden

Late this afternoon the New York Rangers will take on the San Jose Sharks in each team’s sixth game of the season. The Sharks come into the game 4-0-1, with their only loss coming to the New York Islanders as they continue on a 5-game east coast road trip. Last night the Sharks played the New Jersey Devils and won 4-2, so the team should be at least a little bit tired for tonight’s action at the Garden. The Sharks are looking to have a bounce back season after being only the fourth team in league history to lose a playoff series after leading three games to none. The Rangers are looking to bounce back after an awful start to the season and after last season where they lost both games to the Sharks; 9-2 in the first contest in San Jose and 1-0 at the Garden after a controversial call overturned a goal by Carl Hagelin.

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The Sharks are currently without a captain after head coach Todd McLellan stripped Joe Thornton of the captaincy in an attempt to shake up the roster and hold players accountable. Alex Stalock is assumed to have gotten the nod tonight as Antti Niemi played last night in New Jersey and stopped 35 of 37 shots last night. Stalock is arguably the better goalie though, and has turned aside 72 of the 75 shots he has faced. Current Ranger Dan Boyle was a long-time member of the Sharks and was a big part of their defense but now they’ll have to go without him in their line-up.

The Rangers, captained by Ryan McDonagh are looking for their third win of the season after being handed three consecutive losses where they allowed 17 goals. Youngster Anthony Duclair will be the healthy scratch tonight even though he was one of the Rangers best players through the five games he played. The Rangers have sent down J.T. Miller and have recalled center Chris Mueller, mostly because he has some power play ability and he is a right-handed face-off man. Henrik Lundqvist is expected to start in-goal for the Rangers. The Rangers are one of four teams in the NHL without a power play goal so far in the season, that company is the Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets, and Buffalo Sabres. Neither team practiced today, but here were yesterday’s practice lines:

My player to watch tonight for the Sharks is Tomas Hertl, mostly because he’s young and has raw, unparalleled talent but because last season against the Rangers he scored four goals in one game and did this. He has only two points on the season so far, and can be relied upon to contribute more offense.

I have a couple of players to watch for the Rangers, Rick Nash, who before the most recent game against the Carolina Hurricanes had six goals in four games, a streak that was snapped but he did manage the shootout winner on Thursday. Derick Brassard is currently on a three game goal scoring streak with a goal per game. Last but not least Henrik Lundqvist is likely looking to bounce back after allowing 13 goals in the past three games so you can expect a big performance from him.