Blue Line Station
Fansided

It’s time to beat the Penguins

By Steve Paulus

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) fight for the puck. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) fight for the puck. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 17: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates a powerplay goal by Patric Hornqvist #72 against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden on October 17, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 17: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates a powerplay goal by Patric Hornqvist #72 against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden on October 17, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3 keys to winning

  1. Stop the Crosby line – Sidney Crosby has made a habit out of tormenting the New York Rangers.  They have had decent success against his this season, holding him to three goals and three assists in six games. With all of the injuries, the Penguins are relying very heavily on their top line and they have to be stopped to have a chance to win.
  2. Don’t blow a lead –The Rangers  have blown 10 third period leads this season, three times to the Penguins.  They’ve given up eight points this season on blown third period leads.  In the three games with Pittsburgh, it gave them six points and cost the Rangers four points.  If the Rangers had held those leads and beaten the Pens, guess what.  The Rangers would have 45 points to the Penguins 44.
  3. Win special teams battles –  The power play  is 3-17 (17.6%)  in their last five games and that has to improve.  Meanwhile, the Penguins have scored only one power play goal in 16 chances against the Rangers this season.  The Pens have a 6% power play success rate against New York and they’ve won five of the six games.  If they score on the PP, look out.

East Division

Today’s games

Penguins @ Rangers
Bruins @ Flyers
Capitals @ Islanders
Sabres @ Devils

Monday’s game

Flyers 3,  Bruins 2 (overtime)

Standings

1-  Washington   38    25-9-4      54 points
2- Islanders          38   24-10-4    52 points
3- Pittsburgh       38   24-12-2    50 points
4- Boston             35   19-10-6     44 points
5- Philadelphia    37   18-14-5     41 points
6- Rangers            37   17-15-5    39 points
7- New Jersey       36  13-17-6    32 points
8- Buffalo               37    8-23-6     22 points

About the game and join the live conversation

The game starts at 7pm EST and it will be It will be televised on the MSG Network with the radio call on  ESPN 98.7 FM.

Be sure and join the live conversation here on Blue Line Station. The live thread can be found in the conversations section (below).  The thread is active now, but will heat up when the game starts.  Join your fellow Rangers fans and talk about the new lines and how much we all hate Sidney Crosby.

More. Today in NYR history: Duguay scores in 9 seconds. light

Home/Rangers News