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New York Rangers: A tough match up with the Dallas Stars

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 31: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 31: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – FEBRUARY 1: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes a save on a shot by Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Detroit Red Wings as Dylan Larkin #71 of the Wings and Brady Skjei #76 of the Rangers look for the rebound during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on February 1, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /

About the Rangers

The Rangers will be going for their second three-game winning streak of the season.  They’ve had three two-game winning streaks in the last six weeks and weren’t able to extend  them. They have won six of their last eight at  home scoring  31 goals in those six victories an average of over five goals per game.

The combination of Artemi Panarin and Mika ZIbanejad continues to drive the Rangers’ offense.  In fact, there have been eight games this season when both players were held scoreless in the same game and the Rangers have lost them all.

Coach David Quinn kept his new defensive pairings intact throughout the entire 1-0 win over Detroit.  The Jacob Trouba-Ryan Lindgren combination worked as a shutdown combination and in their second game, the Adam Fox-Brady Skjei team  held their own.

Meanwhile, the vaunted kid line is not producing.  Here are their stats.  Filip Chytil has scored one goal in his last ten games.  Kaapo Kakko has one goal and one assist in his last 18 games.   Brett Howden has one goal in his last 12 games.

If you think that is bad, the fourth line is worse.  Greg McKegg has one goal on the season and he scored it on November 6.  Brendan Smith is scoreless in 21 games.  That’s no goals or assists.  Brendan Lemieux has not scored a goal in 12 games and Micheal Haley has only one goal  this season, scored in late October.

It’s  no wonder that David Quinn is leaning heavily on his top two lines.  The power play is also helping, scoring ten goals in their last 29 tries.

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