After yet another disappointing Game 5, a weird trend with the Rangers lately, the Blueshirts now face a do or die Game 6 in Sunrise. The Panthers have basically run the Rangers ragged over the last few games, and it’s easy to say the Rangers haven’t played a complete 60 minutes since Game 3 against Carolina. That’s hyperbole, of course, but they haven’t looked overly good for long stretches this series.
It looks like Peter Laviolette finally got the message about stretching the offense, as Filip Chytil appears to be back at center on the third line where he belongs. The Rangers needed more offense from the bottom of the lineup while the top of the lineup has struggled. Perhaps if the new third line dominates, it forces Florida to change matchups, thus freeing up the top six a bit more.
It’s win or go home.
If you missed our previews, check them out: Stats preview. Systems preview. Goaltending preview. Keys to victory.
Panthers Lines
Vladimir Tarasenko-Aleksander Barkov-Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe-Sam Bennett-Matt Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen-Anton Lundell-Evan Rodrigues
Ryan Lomberg-Kevin Stenlund-Nick Cousins
Gustav Forsling-Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola-Brandon Montour
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Dimitriy Kulikov
Sergei Bobrovsky gets the start
Rangers Lines
Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lafreniere
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Jack Roslovic
Will Cuylle-Filip Chytil-Kaapo Kakko
Barclay Goodrow-Alex Wennberg-Jonny Brodzinski
Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Braden Schneider
Erik Gustafsson-Jacob Trouba
Igor Shesterkin gets the start
Injuries: Jimmy Vesey (shoulder)
Crazy Prediction: They win?
Game time is 8pm.
