Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers look to carry on the momentum against the Panthers

By Andrew Steele-Davis

SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 25: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers is congratulated by Keith Yandle #3 of the Florida Panthers during the Ticketmaster NHL Save Streak during the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills at SAP Center on January 25, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 25: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers is congratulated by Keith Yandle #3 of the Florida Panthers during the Ticketmaster NHL Save Streak during the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills at SAP Center on January 25, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 04: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden on November 4, 2019 in New York City. The Ottawa Senators won 6-2. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 04: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden on November 4, 2019 in New York City. The Ottawa Senators won 6-2. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Three Keys to the game for the Rangers

  1. Get off to a fast start – The Rangers have scored the first goal in four straight games and are 3-1-0 during that stretch. Given the abundance of firepower and talent the Florida Panthers have at their disposal, another fast start today will be key to the Blueshirts riding the momentum they have recently generated and gaining the upper hand against good opposition.
  2. Play good defense – Henrik Lundqvist will get his third straight start between the pipes today and he has proven in his last two games that he can still be vintage Henrik Lundqvist when needed. He has stopped 80 shots and allowed just three goals in his last two starts, and he’ll be ready to go tonight. However, you can’t always rely on Lundqvist to bail you out and a young blueline core will need to be at the top of their game in order to stop a Florida offense that is averaging 3.44 Goals For Per Game, ranked fifth in the NHL.
  3. Feed the hot hand – Artemi Panarin has been at his elite best so far this year, and he’s especially stepped up to the plate in Mika Zibanejad‘s absence. The Russian stud is currently riding a seven-game point streak, and he leads the Rangers in points with 16 (eight goals, eight assists). The Rangers will need to make sure to get the puck on Panarin’s stick in dangerous areas, and he will no doubt do the rest.

Stat Of The Day

Sticking with Artemi Panarin, the Russian forward has recorded an assist/point in each of his last five games against the Florida Panthers (one goal, seven assists) and he’ll no doubt have added motivation to stick one or two goals to show Florida what they didn’t get when he signed with New  York.

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About The Game

Faceoff for today’s matinee is at 1:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the MSG Network, while the Radio broadcast of the game will be carried by ESPN Radio 1050 AM. After today’s game the New York Rangers remain home to face the Pittsburgh Penguins at MSG on Tuesday – 7:30 p.m. ET.

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