Pregame: Rangers Eye Playoff Spot in Match-Up with Panthers

For the first time all month, the New York Rangers will be presented with the opportunity to jump back into the playoff race when they host the eight place Florida Panthers tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Blueshirts trail Florida by only two points in the standings, but have two games at hand, meaning a regulation win in this one would propel New York into the top eight in the Eastern Conference. It would also mean that the Rangers would be winners in four straight since the depressing loss to the Isles last Wednesday. Yes, it may be early, but for this team to get back into the playoff picture after going through a great struggle in November and the beginning of December would be huge and definitively a confidence booster.

At the same time, the Panthers have been on a hot streak themselves, going 5-2-3 in their last ten games, and winning four of their last five. Florida is playing quite well this season, much better than many expected, but really that has been the case in all of the Eastern Conference. Along with the Panthers, Buffalo has been a surprise, New Jersey has been a surprise, Ottawa has been a surprise, and even the Islanders are doing better than we thought. At this point, any points you can get will go a long way and two precious one are up for grabs tonight. These two teams have met twice this year, the first Florida beat the Rangers in regulation, but the Blueshirts struck back with a shootout win of their own, splitting the series at one.

Rangers Projected Lineup

Prospal - Dubinsky - Gaborik
Higgins - Anisimov - Callahan
Avery - Drury - Lisin
Brashear - Christensen - Kotalik

Staal - Rozsival
Girardi - Del Zotto
Gilroy - Redden

Lundqvist

Scratches: Aaron Voros, Brian Boyle (back)

Henrik Lundqvist will be right back in goal after another marvelous performance against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. Lundqvist has been playing all-star caliber hockey lately, completely shutting down opponents. Right when we began to criticize him of the allowance of soft goals, things turned around for him and he looked like himself again. This is, without a doubt, one of the main reasons the Rangers are on a winning streak right now. If Hank is not going, neither is this team, unfortunately, so his stellar goaltending has helped a lot.

I am expecting Coach John Tortorella to stick with the lineup that we saw in Carolina, as there is no logical reason to split the lines up. The first line of Gaborik, Prospal, and Dubinsky is showing signs of developing chemistry for the first time since being reunited last week. I am still amazed at the beautiful passing play the made to combine for the Dubinsky goal, which turned out to be the game-winner.

Then there is the second trio which also played very well against the Hurricanes led by center Artem Anisimov. Anisimov is playing the best hockey of his young career right now, and is being complimented by his wingers, Ryan Callahan and Christopher Higgins. All three of these players are scoring goals more frequently than they did earlier in the season, and I think Torts is very pleased with what they are giving him on that line.

On defense, the Blueshirts have been solid for the most part, but they seem to lack in the third period when Henrik is forced to stand on his head. They still need to play a 60-minute game, but other than that, there are no real complaints here. Marc Staal has been tremendous, and is leading the pack with his smooth defensive responsibility. Marc is quietly becoming a leader on this team, even though he does not wear a letter on his chest.

Panthers Projected Lineup

Frolik - Weiss - Horton
Olesz - Reinprecht - Dvorak
Campbell - Moore - MacIntyre
Duco - Matthias - Oreskovich

McCabe - Ballard
Leopold - Seidenberg
Allen - Garrison

Vokoun

This should be a fast, but low-scoring contest. Both teams will desperately want two points in the standings before heading into the two-day Christmas break Thursday and Friday. Maybe the Rangers will give us all an early gift, and score more than 2 or 3 goals in the tilt. That would make my Holiday that much better.
(Images courtesy of AP Photo and Reuters)