Rangers vs. Coyotes: Open Game Thread

This afternoon, the Blueshirts stop by the desert to visit their old friend Derek Stepan and his squad. The Coyotes are 17-21-3 to the Rangers’ 17-16-7, and the Rangers have earned at least one point in 13 of their last 14 games against the Coyotes, and 3 or more goals in 9 of their last ten (via NHL.com).

Kevin Hayes is still out; Henrik Lundqvist is back in. Tony DeAngelo will not be playing against his former team, and Cody McLeod will apparently not be sitting for a crappy hit that cost the team two goals (out of seven, but still) on Friday in Colorado. Here’s the projected lineup via Daily Face-off :

Kreider Zibanejad Fast

Vesey Howden Buchnevich

Namestnikov Chytil Zuccarello

Nieves Strome McLeod

Staal Pink

Skjei McQuaid

Claesson Shattenkirk

If I was excited about anything, I guess it would be the 90-72-36 line, although I think 72 should be where 21 is, or 89 should be where 17 is, but what do I know (read Mike’s thoughts on Howden’s production here). I’m definitely not excited about the power play, which will be facing Arizona’s league-leading PK. But it’s hockey, so anything can happen, right?

I’m off to grab some beer, which I will drink for purely pleasurable reasons, not at all as a coping mechanism of any kind. LGR!