Rangers vs Nashville Predators: Open Game Thread

The New York Rangers second-to-last game of 2018 is set to take place tonight, as the Blueshirts square off against the spiraling Nashville Predators. Though they’re still second in the Central and one of the top teams in the league, they’ve been struggling lately as they come in tonight on a five-game losing streak. In their last 14 games they have only collected four wins and 30 goals (2.14 goals/gp).

The Rangers have had difficulty collecting wins though too, as they’re coming off three consecutive losses and only one win in their last seven games. It’ll be a tough game for the Rangers as Nashville still has one of the most talented rosters in the league.

Kevin Shattenkirk will miss his seventh straight game and will likely return against the St. Louis Blues.

Projected Lineup

Chytil-Zibanejad-Buchnevich

Kreider-Hayes-Zuccarello

Vesey-Howden-Namestnikov

Andersson-Nieves-Strome

Staal-Pionk

Skjei-McQuaid

Claesson-Smith

The Rangers sit 21st in the league but are only four points ahead of the last place Los Angeles Kings. Their string of overtime losses has given them several additional points and has prevented them from being at the bottom of the standings but hasn’t been enough to get them near a playoff spot. Whatever happens, let’s just hope the Rangers decide the game in regulation so they don’t get stuck with another loser point.