Game 25: Rangers At Lightning

Happy Day After Thanksgiving! Hope you all aren’t too full. After two wins in a row, the Rangers look to keep the streak going.

OPPONENT: Tampa Bay Lightning

RECORD: 9-6-7

LEADING SCORER: Steven Stamkos, with 26 points

GOALIE: Mike Smith will be in net tonight. He has a 3.37 GAA and a .890 save percentage

GAME TIME: 7:30, MSG

RANGERS LINES:

Christopher Higgins-Vinny Prospal-Marian Gaborik

Sean Avery-Artem Anisimov-P.A. Parenteau

Ales Kotalik-Chris Drury-Ryan Callahan

Donald Brashear-Brian Boyle-Enver Lisin

Aaron Voros sits for Kotalik. With Redden out, here are the defense pairs:

Staal-Girardi

Sanguinetti-Gilroy

Rosival-Del Zotto

Lundqvist is in net.

STATE OF THE BLUESHIRTS: Pretty good. Two straight impressive wins. We saw teammates sticking up for each other. This team is looking grittier. They’re going in the corner, fighting for pucks. They’re using a really aggressive forecheck, that’s leading to chances.  The Redden injury hurts. We don’t what we’ll get from Sanguinetti. He’s been tearing it up in the AHL, though. The Rangers, even though they only scored a goal against Florida, were getting a lot of chances. Chris Higgins is beyond due. So is Ryan Callahan. With Kotalik returning, the power play will look better.Drury also looked great on the point; he’ll probably replace Redden on the second power play unit.

CRAZY THOUGHT: Sanguinetti scores his first NHL goal

ON THE iPOD: If You Don’t Know Me By Now, By Seal

FINAL PREDICTION: Torts wins in his return to Tampa Bay, winning 3-1

I’ll be watching the game on my brand new TV I got for Black Friday. It’s awesome. I’m excited. So, watch, discuss, have fun. But most of all, LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!!!