Standings: Panthers (16-8-5), Rangers (16-6-4)

Leading Scorer: Kris Versteeg (13-17-30)

Goaltender: Jose Theodore(2.17 GAA, .930 SV%)

Rangers Lines (probable):

Artem Anisimov-Derek Stepan-Marian Gaborik
Ruslan Fedotenko-Brad Richards-Ryan Callahan
Carl Hagelin-Brian Boyle-John Mitchell
Brandon Dubinsky-Erik Christensen-Brandon Prust

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto-Steve Eminger
Jeff Woywitka-Anton Stralman

Henrik Lundqvist gets the start tonight.

Scratches/Injuries: Marc Staal (concussion symptoms), Mike Rupp (knee), Wojtek Wolski (groin), Mike Sauer (concussion), Sean Avery (healthy)

Preview:  The Florida Panthers are STILL a good team. They are the Southeast Division leading Florida Panthers. This team can score, has a good young defensive core, and has been getting solid goaltending. The Panthers have become a team that the Rangers do not match up well against: a quick team that attacks the puck carrier and forces turnovers. Stephen Weiss finally has legitimate help with Tomas Fleischmann and Kris Versteeg flanking him, making them a very quick and potent line.

The Rangers need to shut down that top line if they want to have any shot at winning this game. Outside of the top line and the Brian Campbell/Dmitry Kulikov combination, the Cats are not that deep. It just so happens that those top five and their goaltending have done a wonderful job of winning games.

Suits Take: The Rangers have been labeled by many as a hockey club that can’t handle smaller, quicker teams. While they have certainly lost some bad games to the Panthers and Canadiens, they have also recently defeated Carolina, Tampa, and the Sabres.

The key here is consistency on the forecheck and back pressure. When the Rangers are able to hunt down the puck carrier, they can beat any team in this league regardless of what system they are up against. That may prove to be difficult tonight since they just played less than 24 hours ago, but it is still the bread and butter of their 5 on 5 play.

Michael Del Zotto has 7 points in his past 7 games and is a plus 4 in that time, yet  no one else is talking about it. Let’s change that folks.

Crazy Thought: Dubinsky scores. I feel bad putting this here, but he needs to step up his game.

Opponent’s Blog: The Rat Trick

Game time tonight is 7pm on MSG, AM1050 and XM214.

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