1/1/11 Rangers vs. Lightning

For those people not watching the Winter Classic.

Rangers against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This New Years Day game will mark the third time these two teams will face each other this season. The Lightning have taken the first two games, most recently a 4-3 shootout win that went nearly eleven rounds. Both times the Rangers have played the Lightning, they have been serrated when it comes to poor decision making. Twice in the last game, the Rangers turned it over to a wide open Martin St. Louis who created scoring chances on both opportunities, and scoring on one of them. If I was coach of the Rangers tonight, I would send Biron out on the ice tonight. Send the Lightning a curve-ball in net, so they have to adjust their style of play to Biron. The Lightning have figured out Lundqvist twice this season, and the Rangers need to come up with a new strategy. Biron is 10-7-2 in his career against the Lightning, and while thats slightly above average, Biron seems like he could hold his own tonight.

My Diagnosis


With the Rangers having played the Bolts twice this season and lost twice, tonight I feel the order will continue  with the Rangers dropping this one. The Lightning have a very good lineup this year. While they are still -2 in the goals for/goals against ratio, they put up the goals necessary for them to win. That stat is skewed because of the do-si-do that keeps happening between Dan Ellis and Mike Smith in goal. Make no mistake, the Lightning are a good team, and unfortunately, I predict them to follow the same path the past two times they've played the Rangers.

My Predictions


Lightning win 4-2

Steven Stamkos will get the first goal for the Bolts in the 1st period.
Vincent Lecavalier will also get a Lightning goal in the 1st.
Brian Boyle will get the Rangers on the board early in the 2nd period.
Alex Frolov will bring the Rangers even also in the 2nd.
Steven Stamkos will get his second goal of the night half way through the 3rd period.
And finally, Teddy Purcell will get the empty net goal to win the game for the Bolts.

Enjoy your New Years everyone!