Down to the wire we go.
Rangers against the Carolina Hurricanes.
A while back I mentioned the last game against these two teams was "as close to a must-win as you can get". That rule still applies tonight. the Rangers need to pump their game up if they want to remain in the hunt for the playoffs. The Rangers lost Marian Gaborik this week due to a concussion, which apparently he has been hiding for some time now. Aside from that, the Rangers are missing captain Chris Drury, and Ruslan Fedotenko. The Rangers have been in a tailspin ever since the all star break, and have been trying desperately to get back in their groove. Kris Newbury has been called up in order to fill Gaborik's void. Newbury, who played just fine while he had his time in the lineup, will have a big role to fill in the Rangers want to come away victors in this game tonight.
The Hurricanes are another team that has been struggling for consistency, much like the Rangers. They are 3-5-2 in their last ten and are trying to stay ahead of the 9th place Thrashers. The Hurricanes have managed to get points out of all three of their last meetings with the Rangers by winning two, and losing one in overtime.
The Rangers MUST shut down the Hurricanes tonight. They MUST convert when given the opportunity. And finally, they MUST find a way to finish this game in regulation. The race in the Eastern conference grows tighter every day, and in order for the Rangers to keep up, they MUST pull it together tonight to give themselves some breathing room.
My Predictions
Rangers win 3-1
Brian Boyle will get the first Rangers goal in the 1st.
Brandon Dubinsky will get the second goal for the Rangers half way through the second.
Jeff Skinner will pot the only Hurricanes goal also in the 2nd.
And finally, Artem Anisimov will get the final goal, and empty netter.
Enjoy the game!
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