Tonight is Sort of a Big Game
With the Rangers coming off a brutal performance in Buffalo and the Jets nipping at their heels for the final playoff spot, to say tonight's game in Winnipeg is big would be an understatement of epic proportions
Here's Jets head coach Claude Noel on tonight's match-up (via ESPN.com)...
"We’d like to be above the line, so that means somebody has to be below it other than us, and we don’t care who it is. The Rangers will be coming in here a little snarly because we beat them in their building. And they had a tough one last night, too. It’s going to be a good game."
After going 23-13-5 at the frenzied MTS Centre last year, the Jets are only 5-6-0 at home this season. However, they did defeat the Maple Leafs in their last home game on Tuesday.
Winnipeg, who trail the Rangers by just one point for the eighth and final playoff spot, defeated the Blueshirts at MSG 4-3, two weeks ago and are 3-0-1 in their last four games overall.
In an attempt to get over their poor play against the Sabres, Ryan McDonagh noted yesterday to the Daily News that the team held a meeting to address what went wrong.
Here's Torts on what he expects from the Jets tonight...
“I have no idea. I’m more worried about what to expect from our team. That’s what we’re concentrating on."
...even if the Rangers lose tonight, the season is far from being over, but having said that the Blueshirts need to start distancing themselves from the rest of the Eastern Conference and this is the perfect opportunity to begin doing that.
...i'd look for the Rangers to establish a tough forecheck right off the opening face-off and fully expect their top players (Hank, Cally and Nash) to come-up huge tonight.
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They just had a piece about the NHL draft this upcoming summer. Man Columbus has 3 first round picks, every team in our new division is going to be very very tough, especially if columbus is able to get some good talent. This is also the best draft they are saying since 2003 when 19 all stars were selected in the first 2 rounds.... Of course we have no draft picks this year :(
As long as Gilroy isnt sliding across the ice on his stomach for the 3rd game in a row cause he can't keep up we should be alright. The only penelty i wanna see is Haley beating someone if they get outa hand.
@TheNYRBlog If we can't beat Winnipeg this time... I'm just giving up... NFL FA is heating up lol
@slapshot13j Who will make the stupid penalty this game? All bets on Boyle or Bickel (if he skates). It's a good thing our PK has been looking great
