Atlanta Thrashers 24-22-10 58 Points
With 26 games remaining in the regular season, it's difficult to say tonight's matchup with Atlanta is a must win, but that's exactly what it is. After dropping 5 straight by a total of 8 goals, the 7th place New York Rangers face off against the 9th seeded Atlanta Thrashers at 7:30 EST in Atlanta.
Mats Zuccarello's shootout beauty Jan 22.
Both of these teams have been struggling mightily of late, with Atlanta having lost its last 4 contests. With both of these teams having played 56 games, the Rangers cannot afford to allow 2 points to slip away to a team that could turn it around with a big win at home Vs. a conference rival.
This current 5 game losing skid began with some rare and unexpected poor play of one of the highest paid goaltender in the NHL. Lundqvist, who season after season has been the leg the Rangers have stood on, allowed 3 goals against a offensively challenged Florida Panther team before the Allstar break, followed by 3 against a Penguin team that was lacking superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in a tough 7 round shootout loss. As if that was not bad enough, Lundqvist was yanked by coach Tortorella after allowing 3 goals on 12 shots against their closest in proximity rivals, the New Jersey Devils. Since that game, Biron has come in and given the Rangers 2 quality starts, but the Rangers offense has not been able to pick up the slack, as they dropped consecutive games by a margin of 1 goal each.
In order to break this losing streak, the Rangers are going to need several key things to go right for them tonight. They must play a smart defensive game and cannot afford to take ill-advised penalties. The Atlanta powerplay, manned by 'Big Buff' on the blue line, was the difference back in October, when Buff beat Marty Biron top shelf to solidify a 6-4 Atlanta win at Madison Square Garden. With the addition of Tobias Enstrom back to the Thrasher lineup, this Atlanta powerplay can be extremely dangerous.
Smart defensive play will not be the only key to tonight's matchup with the Thrashers. The Rangers' offense must break out of it's current funk, and find ways to put the puck in the back of the net. Key role players must step up and make themselves noticeable on the ice. I am speaking primarily of Marian Gaborik. Gaborik has just 1 goal in his last 8 games, and has not been any sort of offensive threat in that stretch.
With 2 huge points up for grabs tonight in Atlanta, the New York Rangers need to the hungrier of the two teams, and start the game with that high energy play that coach Tortorella has praised this team for all season. With Lundqvist between the pipes tonight, the Rangers are hoping he can get out of this current funk he has been in and bring home the win in what may possibly be the biggest game of the season to this point. A loss tonight would drop the Rangers to their 6th straight loss, and with games against the Penguins Kings Flyers Devils and Hurricanes coming up, it is vital for them to get back on track in a hurry, or fall out of a playoff spot all together.
Key Notes: Don't expect to see Eminger in the lineup tonight. Enstrom back in for the Thrashers.
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