Just another must win game against the Islanders

The New York Rangers travel to the Nassau Coliseum to take on the Islanders in an absolutely crucial four point game against  a key playoff rival.  While a loss will not mean their playoff hopes will be dashed, a loss will put the Rangers in an almost untenable position when it comes to making the postseason.

The Rangers will be going back to Igor Shesterkin in net, reinforcing his role as the top goalie.  That despite the fact that he has yet to win in three starts against the Islanders with a 3.00 Goals Against Average (GAA) and .905 Save Percentage (Sv%) while Alexandar Georgiev has absolutely owned the Isles with a 7-2 record and a 1.70 GAA and .940 Sv%.

The rest of the lineup will be the same group that almost lost to the Devils on Sunday.  That includes Tony Bitetto on defense in place of Libor Hajek.  That raised some eyebrows.

When Brooks asked David Quinn to explain why Bitetto was in the lineup for Hajek, he got the usual vague response. Quinn said “I just think this lineup gives us a better chance tonight.”  That’s it, no explanation at all based on what the players are doing or not doing.   You have to hope that what he says to his players is more than that.

It’s easy to pick on Quinn for his lineup choices, but his lack of specificity when answering questions is almost disturbing.  Case in point, when asked what Trouba had done to take himself to the next level as a team leader, Quinn spoke about the difficulty in coming to a new team, then said “This year it’s gone to another level…he’s continued to do the things we need him to do from a leadership standpoint.”    Another answer with no information.

Compare that to what Brendan Smith had to say about Trouba and leadership. “His voice is great in the room, he’s helped bring along some of these younger guys, and then you see what he does on the ice. He’s physical, he’s big…he’s got a lot to like, but the one thing that really sticks out to me this year especially with a young group is the leadership that he’s brought, just to see him grow into that type of player, it’s exciting to see.”

Quinn was asked about what he’s seen from Zac Jones and what it would take for him to crack the lineup. His answer was that they haven’t had enough practices to see what he is capable of, but then said “He’s got a quick brain, quick stick, great skill set, really understands the game and hoping, we have another practice tomorrow, to give us an opportunity to see what he is capable of doing.”    The right answer would have been that he hasn’t seen enough to put a kid just out of college into a must-win game against a tough team like the Islanders.  That’s an answer.

Okay, enough about the coach.  The hope has to be that he communicates better with his players than he does with the press (and therefore the fans).

About the Rangers

The Rangers offense has moved up into the top four in the NHL, averaging 3.33 goals per game. They also have the seventh best defense, allowing 2.58 goals per game.  Their penalty kill is third best in the NHL and their power play is at a high water mark this season, 15th best.  Why is this not a playoff team????

The Rangers scored early against the Devils and rode those early leads to wins.  No one will confuse the Islanders with the Devils, but the Islanders are in an offensive funk and if the Rangers can get an early lead, they can hold it if they play a diligent defense.

Chris Kreider has now scored in two straight games.  A notoriously streaky player, it is the perfect time for him to go on a tear.  It’s been long overdue, but if the Rangers keep winning they will keep their playoff hopes alive.  Interestingly, the Islanders may be the team that the Rangers have the best chance of catching, but the Blueshirts will really need to sweep their last three games with the Isles.

Projected lineup

20 Kreider– 93 Zibanejad – 89 Buchnevich
10 Panarin – 16 Strome – 43 Blackwell
13 Lafrenière – 72 Chytil- 24 Kakko
21 Howden – 17 Rooney  – 72 Kravtsov

55 Lindgren – 23 Fox
79 Miller – 8 Trouba
22 Bitetto – 42 Smith

31 Shesterkin
40 Georgiev

Keys to winning

1. Play defense – The Rangers need to play the solid defense they played the last two times they faced the Islanders when they allowed them only four goals.   They’ve been very opportunistic when scoring and they need to keep that going.  Defense can shut down offense and the Isles have the second best defense in the NHL.  The Rangers have the fourth best offense in the league, which will win out?
2. Depth scoring – The Rangers got their last win against the Isles by getting depth scoring with goals from the top six and the bottom six. The Rangers fourth line must outplay the Islanders fourth line in order to win.
3. Stop the B boys – The Rangers have had success keeping Mathew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey off the scoresheet lately.  Those three have had a lot of success against the Rangers and the Blueshirts need to focus on them.

East Division

Tonight’s games

Rangers @ Islanders
Bruins @ Sabres
Devils @ Penguins

Standings
1- Washington       46     28-13-4     62 points
2- Islanders             45    28-13-4      60 points
3- Pittsburgh          45    28-14-3      59 points
4- Boston                43    25-12-6      56 points
5- Rangers              45    23-16-6      52 points
6–Philadelphia       45    20-18-7      47 points
7- New Jersey         44   14-24-6       34 points
8- Buffalo                 45   12-26-7       31 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 MSG2 Network with the radio call on  WEPN 1050 AM.

Be sure and join the live conversation here on Blue Line Station. The live thread can be found in the conversations section (below).  Anytime the Rangers play the Islanders it fodder for a lot of lively conversation.