Teach me how to Dubi, teach me, teach me how to Dubi.Rangers against the Ottawa Senators.
For the first time this season, the Rangers are in the midst of a five game winning streak. And boy, did they choose the right time to do it. the Rangers have had a persistent following from the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres as each of them looks to stay in contention for the playoffs. The Rangers have a little bit of a cushion, but nothing one that should make them feel too comfortable for too long. Henrik Lundqvist recorded his tenth shutout of the season against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers did a fine job of holding the neutral zone for a majority of that game, and that will be a key for another victory tonight against the Senators. Another bit of good news is that Marc Staal, who has sat for the Rangers for the past two games with an undisclosed injury, has a possibility of returning to the lineup tonight at MSG. One thing I did notice watching the Florida game that troubled me was the lack of shots taken during the one power-play that the Rangers got. Despite being stood up on the blue line a few times, when the puck entered the zone, not a lot of shots were even considered at good opportunities. Craig Anderson, goalie for the Senators, is returning to the pipes tonight, and the best way to welcome him back would be to test him as much as possible.
Despite being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Senators have not lied down yet. The Senators are 6-4-0 in their last ten games, and are looking to fight until the end of the season despite being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs already. The Senators will be without a lot of players tonight. Captain Daniel Alfredsson, Matt Carkner, Peter Regin, and Milan Michalek will all sit tonight. However, Jason Spezza has been lighting the lamp for the Senators during these injury trials, scoring 4 goals and getting 6 assists in his last seven games. Make no mistake, the Senators will not just roll over for tonights game.
My Diagnosis
Neither Buffalo nor Carolina are playing tonight, which makes perfect sense why the Rangers should be amped up beyond their normal levels for tonights game. Tonight is their chance to get a little bit of a jump on those two teams to give them some more breathing room in the standings, and potentially move closer to the Montreal Canadiens, who are currently three points ahead of the Rangers. I'm anticipating a big game from Brandon Dubinsky as well. Dubinsky, the only goal scorer in the game against Florida, has looked very well over the past few games, and I believe that will carry over into tonights game.
Mt Predictions
Rangers win 4-2
Brandon Dubinsky will get the initial goal for the Rangers in the 1st.
Jason Spezza will tie it up to end the 1st.
Brian Boyle will tally a goal for the Rangers early in the 2nd.
Derek Stepan will pot another for the Rangers also in the 2nd.
Eric Condra will pull the Senators within one goal late in the 2nd.
And finally, Wojtek Wolski will get the final gol for the Rangers in the 3rd.
Enjoy the game!
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