Tonight the New York Rangers (37-25-9) visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (28-35-8). Following their first regulation loss in five weeks, the Rangers wrap up their three-game road trip as they meet the resurgent Lightning for the final time in the regular season. The Rangers had gone 10-0-3 since their last regulation loss, 4-1 to defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim on Feb. 7.
It was New York’s longest run without losing in regulation since going 12-0-0 with two ties from Oct. 24-Nov. 24, 1993 - the season the Rangers last won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers start play tonight sixth in the East but are just five points behind conference-leading New Jersey, which plays earlier Saturday at Colorado. Following this game, the Rangers will play their final 10 against Atlantic Division foes, including three each versus New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Though they’ll be facing one of the league’s weakest teams on Saturday, the Rangers have had little success recently at the St. Pete Times Forum. New York is 3-5-1 in its last nine games there. Three seasons after winning the Stanley Cup, Tampa Bay appears headed to a last-place finish in 2007-08. The Lightning have 64 points, fewest in the East and only two more than league-worst Los Angeles. Still, the Lightning are in position for their first three-game winning streak since mid-January. After setting a season high for goals in an 8-4 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday, the Lightning defeated Boston 3-1 on Thursday. Three players acquired from Dallas at last month’s trading deadline all factored in the latest win. Mike Smith stopped 35 shots to snap a personal four-game losing streak, Jeff Halpern opened the scoring with a power-play goal and Jussi Jokinen assisted on Andreas Karlsson’s tally that gave Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead in the second period. For a full preview go to Yahoo! Sports.
It was New York’s longest run without losing in regulation since going 12-0-0 with two ties from Oct. 24-Nov. 24, 1993 - the season the Rangers last won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers start play tonight sixth in the East but are just five points behind conference-leading New Jersey, which plays earlier Saturday at Colorado. Following this game, the Rangers will play their final 10 against Atlantic Division foes, including three each versus New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Though they’ll be facing one of the league’s weakest teams on Saturday, the Rangers have had little success recently at the St. Pete Times Forum. New York is 3-5-1 in its last nine games there. Three seasons after winning the Stanley Cup, Tampa Bay appears headed to a last-place finish in 2007-08. The Lightning have 64 points, fewest in the East and only two more than league-worst Los Angeles. Still, the Lightning are in position for their first three-game winning streak since mid-January. After setting a season high for goals in an 8-4 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday, the Lightning defeated Boston 3-1 on Thursday. Three players acquired from Dallas at last month’s trading deadline all factored in the latest win. Mike Smith stopped 35 shots to snap a personal four-game losing streak, Jeff Halpern opened the scoring with a power-play goal and Jussi Jokinen assisted on Andreas Karlsson’s tally that gave Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead in the second period. For a full preview go to Yahoo! Sports.
...I think we all remember what happened when the last place Kings came into the Garden last month. So the Rangers better pick-up the intensity tonight if they don't won't to suffer their second loss in a row.
...the playoff race has tightened up so much in the last two days that I'm actually starting to get concerned about the Rangers getting in. Right now the three closest teams out of the playoffs (Sabres, Capitals and Panthers) are only 6 points, 7 points and 7 points behind the Rangers respectively.
...lots of articles on the Rangers power play failures in today's papers. Renney is quoted as saying this: "I don't think it's too late to make a change," coach Tom Renney said when asked if he would consider changing the power-play personnel. "Do I load up [with one unit], do I stay with two, do I replace a couple of players and get back to fundamental hockey?" and added this "I'm thinking about Marc [Staal] back there," Renney said. "That's not out of the question."
...still not sure who will be in between the pipes tonight for the Rangers. Steve Zipay at Newsday thinks it could be Valiquette.
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