Rangers vs. Flames: 3 things to watch for looking to avoid season-series sweep
The New York Rangers can’t take their foot off the gas Tuesday when they host the slumping Calgary Flames at Madison Square Garden.
Each contest and standings point is crucial at this stage of the season with 14 games remaining on their schedule, so the Rangers cannot afford to look past any opponent. Especially since the Flames have a nearly identical record to the Rangers and are also fighting for a playoff spot, albeit in another conference.
The Rangers (33-29-6) are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday to start this four-game homestand. New York is 2-3-2 after winning four of five games, and is the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, one-point ahead of the Montreal Canadiens and two ahead of the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Flames (30-25-11) opened a four-game road trip in Toronto on Monday and were smoked by the Maple Leafs 6-2. That was their third straight loss (0-2-1) and they’re 2-4-3 since Feb. 27. Calgary is tied for 10th in the Western Conference, two points out of the second wild card.
So, two teams with a lot to play for. But the Rangers have several advantages, including playing at home (the Flames are 12-14-6 on the road) and simply playing better hockey of late. Their past two regulation losses — Sunday to the Oilers and last week against the Winnipeg Jets (2-1) — were well-played games against top contenders. In fact, New York’s defensive play has really stood out in the past four games, allowing just seven goals despite a 2-2-0 record.
The Flames are trying to sweep the two-game season series. They won 3-2 at home on Nov. 21, when they out-shot the Rangers by a whopping 49-29 margin.
Related: Rangers’ Arthur Kaliyev out for season with upper-body injury
3 things to watch for when Rangers host Flames
1. Give ’em nothing
The Rangers are playing some of their best defensive hockey recently, shutting down the neutral zone, limiting rush chances and making fewer egregious turnovers in their own end. If they stick to that formula, they have a good chance at winning Tuesday.
The Flames are the lowest scoring team in the NHL, averaging just 2.55 goals per game. They’ve scored 10 goals in their past five games and more than three just once in the past 16. Calgary has been held to two goals or fewer 31 times in 66 games this season.
Their leading scorer, Justin Huberdeau, reached 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) on Monday. He’s the 80th player in the League to total that many this season, the only one from the impotent Flames.
2. Time to be Power Rangers
New York’s power play is withering away down the stretch. The Rangers are 1-for-22 the past eight games on the power play and 2-for-31 since Feb. 25. They’ve fallen to 25th in the League at 18.6 percent this season.
But with Adam Fox healthy, playing his third game after an eight-game injury absence, maybe the Rangers can get the power play going against a struggling Flames penalty kill. Calgary’s PK (73.9 percent) is 27th in the NHL.
3. Changing the bottom-six look
Juuso Parssinen draws back into the Rangers lineup after the forward was a healthy scratch the past five games. Parssinen’s played only three games since he was acquired with Calvin de Haan from the Colorado Avalanche for Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey ahead of the trade deadline. He not only doesn’t have a point but seeks his first shot on goal, despite playing third-line minutes.
He’ll be back on the third line Tuesday, with Sam Carrick and Chris Kreider. Brett Berard will slide down to the fourth line and Brennan Othmann will be a healthy scratch.
“I wanted an opportunity to get a young player back in there in Pärssinen,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said after the morning skate. “It’s a chance for I think maybe Othmann to reset, reboot and wait for his next opportunity.”
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Cuylle
Lafreniere – J.T. Miller- Zibanejad
Kreider – Carrick – Parssinen
Berard – Brodzinski – Rempe
Vaakanainen – Fox
K. Miller – Borgen
Jones – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Flames: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Calgary Flames
When: Tuesday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: MSG
More About:New York Rangers News