Theme game
After months of anticipating a Hudson fight back, the Rangers and Devils own Game 1 of their series tonight in Newark. The Rangers have gone 1-2-1 against the Devils this season, with all games close and none with the current iteration of the Rangers lineup. This bodes well for the Rangers, even if the Devils are a very good team.
Both teams are well-known entities at this point, with Rangers relying on elite skill up front and at the net to balance decent 5v5 possession measures. The Devils are a top-tier xG team, but they lack consistent goalkeeping and defensive zone play. They rely on rushing opportunities and big attacking to keep the opponent pinned down. Naturally, the Rangers will be looking to weather the storm early and counterattack after the initial blast.
Devils lines
Thomas Tatar – Nico Hischer – Dawson Mercer
Ondrej Balat – Jack Hughes – Jasper Pratt
Timo Meyer, Eric Haola, Jesper Bokvist
Miles Wood, Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian
Jonas Seigenthaler Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves – John Marino
Kevin Bahl Damon Severson
“Vitic Vanak” begins.
Rangers Lines
Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Patrick Kane
Artemy Panarin-Vincent Troshek-Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexis Lafrenière Philippe Shetel Second Capo
Tyler Mott, Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey
Ryan Lindgren, Adam Fox
Candy Miller Jacob Trueba
Nico Mikkola Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin starts at the start.
Crazy expectation: Rangers win 4.
Playtime is 7 p.m.
Related
Classified: Theme Game