Game 51: Beating the slumping Caps

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The Rangers are one of the hottest teams in the league right now with a 6-2-1 record in January, and a 10-3-1 streak dating back to Christmas. Suffice it to say, the team is starting to find its stride and seems to have finally adapted to the new systems implemented by coach Alain Vigneault. The last player that needed to get going –Derek Stepan– had a huge game yesterday. Once he gets going, and assuming the rest of the club continues to play this way, then this is a New York team that could be unstoppable.

Adam Oates and his Caps are struggling, with a 2-4-4 record over their last 10 games. On the ice, Oates runs an overload 1-2-2 forecheck, same as the Rangers. They generally send one man in, but if the chances at a turnover are high, they will send the second and third man in. They are fairly aggressive when it comes to defensive zone schemes, playing an overload style along the walls and collapsing below the hashmarks when the puck is down low. Their power play strategy is a 1-3-1, and their penalty kill formation changes based on opponent’s setup.

Rangers Lineup:

Chris Kreider–Derek Stepan–Rick Nash
Carl Hagelin–Brad Richards–Ryan Callahan
Benoit Pouliot–Derick Brassard–Mats Zuccarello
Brian Boyle–Dominic Moore-Dan Carcillo