Surging New York Rangers take on the struggling Winnipeg Jets – NHL Preview
After getting a guaranteed place in the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs this season, New York Rangers seem to have found new winning ways and they are gaining a positive momentum as the regular season nears its end.
The surging Rangers are now going to face the Winnipeg Jets, who might not be able to play in the postseason owing to their poor record.
The matchup will take place on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Let’s have a look at both teams.
Rangers
They are leading the Eastern Conference with 103 points after 76 games.
Out of the last five games, they have won four and are presently on a two-game winning streak with the victories coming against Toronto Maple Leafs (4-3 after shootout) and Minnesota Wild (3-2).
Against Wild, Rangers got the lead in the first period, but gave away two goals while scoring only one in the second. However, Rangers got the decisive goal in the final period to win the game.
Rangers’ centre, Brian Boyle, said after the game:
"We were more concerned with our second period than where we stood. Two points is big for us. But we want to be better."
Jets
They are ranked at 10th spot in the Eastern Conference with 78 points after 76 games and are eight points behind the eighth-ranked Buffalo Sabres.
Jets have very slight hopes of reaching the playoffs and they are not ready to give up as long as they are alive in the competition.
Jets’ forward, Bryan Little, said:
"It's not like we're eliminated yet. There is still a slight hope but like I said, we can't be talking about making the playoffs and being so worried about it, we just have to try to play our best hockey and win as many games as we can."
Jets have lost four out of their last five games and are currently on a two-game losing streak with the defeats coming against Nashville Predators (3-1) and Ottawa Senators (6-4).
Jets’ goaltender, Ondrej Pavelec, said of the team’s situation and the game against Rangers:
"The Rangers are coming up, a hard team to play against. If we're going to play like that they're going to kill us again.”
Predictions
Rangers have an edge.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might be six or more.
If Jets win, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
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