The Eastern Conference Final is now tied at 2 games apiece after the Rangers and Panthers have split games at both MSG and in Sunrise. Now a best of three, the Rangers are instead facing a daunting task of getting back on their feet after running around their own zone for 65% of the games in Sunrise.
On the bright side, the Rangers have home ice and last change, which has benefited them significantly in the past. But it’s hard to be optimistic when the Blueshirts really haven’t looked good since Game 3 against Carolina. We can’t ignore that the top-six has been a mess and without Barclay Goodrow and Alexis Lafreniere, the Rangers offense would be asleep.
Credit where credit is due, as the Panthers are an extremely good team that unfortunately reminds us of the 2014 LA Kings. They are dirty, but are getting the calls. The Rangers won’t get calls as long as they are chasing the Panthers around the ice all game. That needs to change first, then they can start clawing their way back.
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-Filip Chytil
Will Cuylle-Alex Wennberg-Jack Roslovic
Kaapo Kakko-Barclay Goodrow-Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Braden Schneider
Erik Gustafsson-Jacob Trouba
Igor Shesterkin gets the start
Injuries: Jimmy Vesey (shoulder)
Crazy Prediction: The refs actually make proper calls.
Game time is 8pm.
