2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series – New York Rangers versus the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be hosting the New York Rangers this Wednesday as they face each other for the first time in the season. Both teams will be facing each other four times during the course of the season. Last season both teams also met 4 times
out of which the New York Rangers won the last three games with dominating performances with the scores on 8-2, 2-2 and the most recent at 5-0 (on the 2nd of April 2010). If we talk about the past 13 games played between the two teams, then it is
the New York Rangers who have dominated and won 10 games while losing only 3.
The game is expected to be one of the most entertaining and thrilling games as the New York Rangers welcome their goal keeper Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist is undoubtedly one of the most talented goal keepers in the NHL today. The other side of the story is
that he is up against one of the strongest attacks in the league led by Steven Stamkos who is leading with 20 goals and is level on points with Sidney Crosby for the points scored by 35.
Steven Stamkos is in superb form and scored his 20th goal in the game against the Boston Bruins this Monday as they won the match 3-1. Tampa Bay Lightning have started to stack up good performances after a shaky start and are looking for a fifth
successive win as they will be facing the New York Rangers this time out. The good thing about the Tampa Bay Lightning that impresses many is the fact that they are contributions from all the players.
Martin St. Louis is another player in the Lightning squad who is starting to open up and score goals on a regular basis which gives them diversity and strength in the squad and a wide range of options.
"It's nice," Stamkos said after hitting the 20-goal mark. "But I just want to keep going. I just want to chip in offensively whenever I can to help this team win games. However many goals you get, it doesn't matter, as long as you're helping the team win."
The Tampa Bay Lightning are moving up the table and currently have 26 points after winning 14 out of their 21 games. The New York Rangers on the other hand have won 13 games out of the 22 games played scoring 25 points.
The New York Rangers last game was a very tough battle, which they managed to win in the end though. Ryan Callahan played a major part in this victory as the Rangers emerged victorious.
The New York Rangers are aiming high and are seeking a three win streak if they win this game and the next against the Nashville Predators.
Commenting on Callahan’s performance during the battle against the Calgary Flames defenseman Dan Girardi said, "That's part of Cally's game, and that's what he's great at," Girardi told newyorkrangers.com after the game. "He may not get credit for it, but
he's a big part of that goal, for sure."
This is one of those matches in the season regarding which you can’t say much, as one team is very strong defensively while the other is the most powerful attacking team.
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