Eastern Conference Finals Rematch, Lindgren Returns

The Return of Lindy

As the Rangers gear up for a their third game against Tampa this year and 78th total, the story of the game is Ryan Lindgren. Lindgren has been a staple in the Rangers lineup since he became a lineup regular in the Covid shortened 2019-20 season. The biggest aspect to what Lindgren provides is familiarity and reliability with his Norris winning partner Adam Fox. Lindgren has played just one game since TJ Oshie slammed him into the boards back on February 25th and it has led to a noticeable drop off in Fox game. Fox, who has been paired with mid season acquisition Niko Mikkola in Lindgren's absence, has looked like a shell of himself. Fox has had 2 goals and 12 assists in the 18 games since Lindgren's injury and 2 goals and 11 assists in the 17 games when excluding the one game stint Lindgren had back in the lineup on March 21st against the Hurricanes. Although the the numbers Fox has put up are only slightly off of his usual amounts, he has looked more hesitant and his sub 50% xGF is extremely uncharacteristic. The reunion of Fox and Lindgren will allow Fox to feel more comfortable having his anchor behind him at all times and almost just as importantly, allows Mikkola to slot back into the third pair role he was brought to New York to play. Mikkola will be paired with Schneider and hopefully in the five remaining games they can gain some chemistry for the inevitable first round series with the Devils. As for Ben Harpur, he will find himself a seat in the press box for what will be the rest of the year, baring injuries.

Kid Line Keeps Humming

The key to another long playoff run this year might be the Kid Line and they are rolling heading into the playoffs. As teams plan to use their top defensive lines against oppositions top offensive lines, it leaves opponents vulnerable to three young guns by the names of Filip, Alexis and Kaapo. One of the biggest strengths the Rangers have is depth scoring as there is no third line in the NHL that can put the puck in the back of the net like the Rangers. The high energy trio of former first round picks have been putting on a clinic as of late combining for 15 points in their last five games. At this point in the year, where it feels inevitable that the Rangers will match up against the Devils in two weeks, it is easy to look ahead to that matchup, but these next five games are crucial for gaining chemistry amongst the lines and making sure the team is hitting on all cylinders come game one of the playoffs. The chemistry in the top six is questionable, but the one thing that is known is all six of those players can be consistent point producers. The three kids have yet to show that in their young careers. Although that third line has been amazing as of late, they tend to fall into slumps. The Rangers will need secondary scoring and especially need their third line to stay hot come playoffs. I will be looking for consistent play throughout the final five in hopes this line carries their play into playoffs and hopefully for another two months. Tonight will be their best test facing the team that has won the Prince of Wales the last three seasons.

Juggling The Top Six

As we have seen throughout Gallant's two year tenure with the Rangers, no line is safe to stay together. This continues just as we thought the Panarin-Zibanejad-Tarasenko and Kreider-Trocheck-Kane lines would be the ones rolled out in game one of the playoffs, Turk swapped the centers on those lines. Gallant made himself clear this week that if he does not like what he sees, he is willing to change it up at any point. I am not sure how hesitant he will be to do so in the playoffs as last year the top six didn't change once from Game 1 of round 1 to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The one constant in the lines as of late has been the wingers and I do not expect that to change. Panarin and Kane were extremely dominant together in Chicago and of course Turk had to try them together, but years later it simply was not the same. Kane and Panarin play too similar of play styles and are clearly the two best playmaking forwards on the team. It feels as if unless there is an injury, Panarin will be with Tarasenko and Kreider will be with Kane for the remainder of the season and playoffs. No matter who is centering the pairs of wingers, they need to stay together. Kreider and Kane have developed a chemistry since joining forces with Vincent Trocheck following the old Chicago experiment and putting that duo with Zibanejad just feels right considering the history, and bromance, Kreider and Zibanejad have. The line of Panarin-Trocheck-Tarasenko feels right as well. Trocheck has a lot on his plate defensively as both his wingers are extremely lackluster in their own zone, but I would prefer Trocheck to carry the defensive burden with those wingers instead of Zibanejad. This allows Zib to play to his full potential offensively. Personally, I am a huge fan of the lines the Rangers are running out tonight, of course a lot could change, but as of now I believe they give the Rangers the best chance to add a fifth to their trophy case this summer.

Tampa as of Late

The Lightning are riding a three game winning streak, which is promising for the Bolts following what was a four game losing streak prior to their last three. Tampa sits at 3-2-0 in their last five as they look to gain momentum entering the playoffs. Similar to the Rangers, the Lightning seem primed for third in their division so the final few games of the year are more about coming into form and fine tuning their play for the playoffs. Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point have been leading the way the last three games, each registering three goals in that span, but Andrei Vasilevskiy has been the story of their three game winning streak allowing only one goal over those three games, which includes shutouts against the Islanders and Hurricanes. Vasi has been considered the best goaltender in the league the last few seasons and for good reason. Vasilevskiy will be getting the start tonight as he looks to continue his recent dominance.

Expected Lineups

Rangers

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kane

Panarin-Trocheck-Tarasenko

Lafreniere-Chytil-Kakko

Vesey-Goodrow-Motte

Lindgren-Fox

Miller-Trouba

Mikkola-Schneider

Shesterkin

Halak

Lightning

Stamkos-Point-Kucherov

Hagel-Paul-Colton

Maroon-Cirelli-Killorn

Jeannot-Bellemare-Perry

Hedman-Perbix

Sergachev-Raddysh

Cole-Cernak

Vasilevskiy-Elliott

Betting Odds

Moneyline:

Rangers -125

Lightning +105

Spread:

Rangers -1.5 +195

Lightning +105 -230

Over/Under:

Over 6 +104

Under 6 -126