Sharks @ Rangers Preview

Chardougla   23 October 2017

Welcome back Tankers, to our sexy 5 game Eastern Conference road trip. While the last 4 games have been fun, with the team looking vastly improved from the first 3 despite their 2-2 record, PDB decided that the fun was over as tonight marks the return of Joel Ward and the exit of Timo Meier and Jannik Hansen.

Last 10 Games: 3-4-0

Know thy enemy: New York Rangers (2-5-2, 8th in Metro)

The Rangers, despite their lowly position in the Metro, have the same number of points as our beloved Sharks, albeit with 2 more games played. Their last 3 games they’ve gone 1-0-2, with their win being the latest in a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. They’ve been led in scoring by JT Miller with 8 points on 2 goals and 6 assists. The Rangers are currently tied for the 10th best Power Play in the league at 22.9%, right below the Sharks’ own 23.3%. Their Penalty Kill, meanwhile, has been less helpful, sitting at 22nd in the league at 77.1%. Overall the consensus among the players is they’ve rebounded from a rough start to the season, and similarly to the Sharks have been playing much better as of late.

Why you should hate this team: I mean, it’s New York. Who doesn’t love to hate New York? They’re basically LA east, but with less bandwagon and more douchebaggery.

Player to watch: Pavel Buchnevich, RW. Buchnevich broke into the Rangers starting line up last year, and has really impressed fans so far this year as a middle six skilled forward, so far scoring 1 goal and 3 assists, to go with a Corsi for per 60 that’s second on the team, trailing only Rick Nash.

First Goal Watch: Ryan McDonagh, D. Yes you read that right. The Rangers erstwhile captain, and former Badger (On Wisconsin!) has yet to register a goal through the first 7 games of the season. I think you can all see where this is headed.

Meanwhile, in San Jose: Like I mentioned above, the Sharks have decided to bench Timo Meier and Jannik Hansen while starting Joel Ward and Barclay Goodrow in their place, apparently because PDB isn’t satisfied with the amount of GPALZ being produced by the Shark’s bottom six. While I sympathize with the goal, and don’t necessarily disagree with bringing Goodrow up, it’s the starting of Joel Ward that I take issue with. Now I have a ton of good will towards Joel that’s built from his fantastic showing during the magical 2016 playoff run, but the sad fact of the matter is Ward is too old and too slow to be anything but a net negative in today’s NHL. Speed is the name of the game nowadays, and especially with the fact that he’s replacing a speedy forward in Hansen, I have my doubts as to how this move will translate.

Goalies: Our Lord and Saviour mans the crease for the Sharks, while the King Henrik Lundqvist defends the net for the Rangers

GO SHARKS!!!!!