12/8/11 Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Goonies never say die.

Rangers against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

For the second time in a week, the Rangers and Lightning are squaring off, this time at Madison Square Garden. The last time these two teams faced, the Rangers beat out the Lightning in the dying minutes of the 3rd period as Derek Stapan put the Rangers up with three minutes to go. Brad Richards sealed the win with an empty-netter, and there was much rejoicing. After coming up just short of beating the Maple Leafs, the Rangers are looking to get back to a win streak, and it starts tonight with the Lightning. The Rangers took a bump in their game against the Leafs, as Dion Phaneuf does what Dion Phaneuf does, and that is layeth the smacketh down on an open ice body check on Michael Sauer. Sauer unfortunately suffered a concussion on the play, and will be out for a undisclosed amount of  time. The Rangers called up recently added defenseman Anton Stralman to replace him. Stralman, who only played in one game this season, will hopefully blend well with the defensive system going on here with the Rangers. As far as who has been performing well, that compliment goes to Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik. Despite the loss to the Leafs, these two have done their fair share of contributing to the offense of the team, and are a threatening tandem when put out on the ice together. Watch them to stir up some magic tonight, as they are ones to do.



The Lightning are a bit banged up as well. This morning, reports of Marty St. Louis being hurt in practice surfaced, and he has been ruled out of tonights game. This is a huge blow for the Bolts, as St. Louis has been a Rangers-killer for a while now, and always puts on a good performance against the Rangers. Along with him, Pavel Kubina and Nate Thompson will be out for tonights game as well.

The Diagnosis


The Rangers and Lightning are familiar once already this season, but I think the blows that the Bolts have taken are more severe than the Rangers losing Michael Sauer. Three major components with St. Louis, Thompson, and Kubina are out of their lineup, so they will have to figure out a way to make something happen without those two. I think if the Rangers can do exactly what they did earlier this week against the Lightning, they can come away with a victory once again.

The Prediction


Rangers win 5-2

Brian Boyle will get the first Rangers goal early in the game.
Marian Gaborik will get the second Rangers goal also in the 1st.
Steven Stamkos will get the first Lightning goal in the 1st.
Brad Richards will get the third Rangers goal early in the 2nd.
Vinny Lecavalier will get the final Bolts goal also in the 2nd.
Ryan Callahan will get the next Rangers goal in the 3rd.
And finally, Brandon Prust will get the final Rangers goal late in the 3rd.

Enjoy the game!