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Rangers kick off three game homestand vs. Wild and Ryan Reaves |
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The Rangers return home to face the Wild today. Fan favorite Ryan Reaves plays against his former team for the first time since his November trade to Minnesota. I wonder if we will see a video tribute at MSG. Following tonight's game. New York remains at home to take on Dallas on Thursday and Montreal on Sunday.
The Rangers' lines in practice Monday were the same as vs. the Devils.
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-Kravtsov
Lafrenière-Chytil-Vesey
Blais-Goodrow-Gauthier-Brodzinski
The first fourth-line rush was Brodzinski-Goodrow-Gauthier, which likely means Sammy Blais will be the healthy scratch.
As we know, Minnesota is a dangerous offensive squad. Kirill the Thrill Kaprizov has become one of the elite wingers in the league. Mats Zuccarello, who missed the team;s last two games with an upper-body injury suffered last Wednesday against the Lightning, is a game-time decision. Prior to the injury, Zucc - who if he does play will hear that name screamed repeatedly throughout the night, was on early-pace to exceed the career-high 79 points he tallied last season.
If the Rangers play defensively against the Wild as they did versus the Devils, they will get waxed, unless Igor shesterkin stands on his head. New York needs to be a lot better in the neutral zone while also limiting the unforced errors. Areas of weakness/remediation still exist, but this a squad that is 11-2-2 in their last 15 games, so jumping off the ledge for certain mistakes is not warranted. That record notwithstanding, if you asked the team to a man they would say work is needed. The good news though the hot streak has put them in decent position at the midway point of the season.
Revisiting my post from Sunday about coaching consistency. In Monday's meeting, coach Gerard Gallant Gallant brought up Barclay Goodrow's turnover that directly led to Jack Hughes' goal, but it's clear that Goodrow has built enough equity with him that it didn't deter him from leaving him in the lineup and moving him in the third to try and protect the lead. "He made a mistake the other night," GG said. "Big deal. People make mistakes." That attitude is fine, but apply it consistently and not just to veterans. Yes, you earn your equity and amount of leash the coach provides. But we all know if it was Laf or Kakko or even Chytil, it would be a first class trip to splinter central.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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