It doesn’t get easier as Rangers must face Penguins tonight (PIT at NYR 7pm)
Marc Staal will be covering Sidney Crosby tonight (nhl)
The division leading, Pittsburgh Penguins roll into the Garden to face a Rangers team that will need to up their battle level a few notches. Attention to details in their own zone will be key to any hope of getting two points.
Game 15: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers, Madison Square Garden – 7PM
Daily Faceoff’s Goalie Matchup
– Note click the Daily Faceoff link throughout the day for confirmed starters
PIT vs NYR via Daily Faceoff
NOTES:
Rangers send Ryan Malone and Conor Allen to Hartford. No surprise with John Moore coming back, and Dan Boyle soon.
— Rangers Report (@rangersreport) November 10, 2014
Jesper Fast is the recall from AHL, per #NYR.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) November 10, 2014
RANGERS TO WATCH
John Moore (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
1. The Defense– I’m not sure how AV handles the return of John Moore tonight. However, if the Rangers are close or up late, I expect to see a lot of Girardi / Staal and Klein / Moore paired up.
2. Mats Zuccarello – His play has improved but he isn’t anywhere close to the battle level and feistiness he showed last year. A divisional matchup should bring that out.
3. Kevin Hayes – Big test for the kid tonight. He’s been strong on the puck lately and looks close to getting on the scoreboard.
EYE ON THE ENEMY
Sidney Crosby (Getty)
1. Sidney Crosby – I do not need to explain this.
2. Patric Hornqvist – 9 goals and 18 points in 13 games. Last year he scored 22 goals in 76 games, he’s on pace for over 50. Why has he been so good? See, #1 on this list. Crosby has assisted on 5 of those 9 goals.
3. Marc-Andre Fleury – The supposed achilles heel of the Penguins is 9-2 with a GAA of 1.90 and a save % at .931.
FULLTILT FORECAST
The forecast is now at 8-6 after predicting a win against the Oilers.
This couldn’t be a more terrible time to face the Penguins. First off, they are red hot and we are scrambling to figure it all out. Our best defender is out with a shoulder injury. Ryan McDonagh is the anchor of that defense and we still have Mike Kostka in the lineup. This could get ugly.
I think the effort and attention to detail will be better, but it looks like one of those “darkest before the dawn” games.
Pens 3 – NYR 2
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