Rangers Vs. Penguins Preview: Rangers Look To Take Home And Home Series Tonight

After routing the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night, the New York Rangers will look to sweep the home and home series tonight at CONSOL Energy Center. The Rangers newest acquisitions played a huge part in the 6-1 win, and they look to keep the winning streak rolling right along. The Penguins looked absolutely flat the other night, but tonight the Rangers have to be on their toes. This team is very good, and has the ability to strike pretty quickly.

One thin the Rangers did right last game? They forecheck the ever living hell out of the Penguins, and they had bodies in front of the net. That's the only way you're going to the beat the Penguins, is by outworking them. They need a quick start tonight, and can't let up until the final horn sounds. Tonight is a big one as the Rangers have a chance to move back into seventh place, and fight for one of the remaining playoff spots.

VS.

New York Rangers (18-15-3) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (28-10-0)
CONSOL Energy Center - Pittsburgh, PA - 7:00 PM
Television: MSG+, RDS, NHL Network | Radio: ESPN NY 98.7
Opponent's Blog: PensBurgh | Tickets: New York Rangers Tickets

Some Quick Thoughts:

• John Tortorella has elected to roll with the same exact lineup as last game, where they scored a season high, six goals. Derick Brassard, Ryane Clowe, and John Moore all played fantastic, and chipped in with their respective points. Tonight they need to keep that rolling, and prove that this team doesn't need Marian Gaborik.
• J.T. Miller re-injured his wrist from a couple of weeks back, and has been receiving treatment from the Rangers medical staff. It was believed that he may be sent down the Connecticut Whale with Chris Kreider, but that doesn't appear to be the case just yet.
• Marc Staal traveled with the team today, but is only expected to remain with them until they get to Carolina. Marc is meeting up with the rest of his family before the Rangers faceoff against the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow night. He has resumed off-ice workouts, but there still is no timetable for when he will be skating, or returning to the lineup./

Projected Lineup:

Rick Nash - Brad Richards - Ryan Callahan
Mats Zuccarello - Derek Stepan - Ryane Clowe
Carl Hagelin - Derick Brassard - Brian Boyle
Arron Asham - Darroll Powe - Taylor Pyatt

Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi
Anton Stralman - Michael Del Zotto
Steve Eminger - John Moore

Henrik Lundqvist
Martin Biron

Scratches: Matt Gilroy (healthy), Marc Staal (eye), J.T. Miller (wrist)