Pregame: Rangers Head into Pitt Wanting To Forget

Coming off of a devastating loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday, the New York Rangers will head into Pittsburgh to open up a home and home series with the Championship Penguins. The Blueshirts may have played in their worst outing of the year last night and will look to quickly forget that with a win today. With that loss, the Rangers fell to tenth place in the East.

The Penguins also had a quite upsetting effort yesterday when the coughed up a lead to the Islanders in the third period of a Friday matinee. The Penguins are second in the East with 34 points.

So far we know of two lineup changes and that consists of Steve Valiquette in goal and Aaron Voros in for Brain Boyle. Having Valiquette in net against a top-notch club in the Pens is a scary thought considering he allowed five goals to a similar team in the San Jose Sharks earlier in the season. I am assuming that Boyle injured himself in one of the two fights he was a part of in Tampa which would be the logical reason as to why he will sit.

Rangers Projected Lineup (Subject to Change):

Higgins - Prospal - Gaborik
Callahan - Drury - Kotalik
Avery - Anisimov - Parenteau
Brashear - Boyle - Voros

Staal - Girardi
Sanguinetti - Gilroy
Del Zotto - Rozsival

Valiquette

Scratch(es): Redden (undisclosed), Dubinsky (broken hand), Voros

I note that the lines are subject to change solely due to the fact that Tortorella will more than likely be inputing different players into different combinations in an attempt to get more from his team. They showed close to nothing in Tampa, so I am expecting changes all throughout tonight's tilt.

The offense needs to be more passionate in their efforts, or lack off I should say. There is no emotion in their game and against a squad like Pittsburgh they will not create any prime scoring chances if they play a lack-luster game like they did last night. I blame some of this on coach Tortorella, whose job it is to motivate his boys and rile up the bench. The so called "fiery" Torts has not even been close to living up to that title lately.

However, there are the are the minority of players on this roster who take it upon themselves to try and gain energy and momentum. Thos being the Sean Averys, the Ryan Callahans, and usually the Brandon Dubinskys--who is out--and even yesterday it was Brain Boyle who stuck up for his team. I appreciate their effort but the rest of the team needs to pick their heads up and start playing hockey.

I am really unsure what to expect in Pittsburgh tonight. We could see the Rangers that we saw the first game of the season, or we could see the Rangers that have been descending in the standings for the past month. They are an inconsistent and unpredictable team with inconsistent and unpredictable management and coaching. It is as simple as that.

Penguins Projected Lineup:

Talbot - Crosby - Guerin
Dupuis -  Malkin - Fedotenko
Cooke - Staal - Bourque
Adama - Rupp - Godard

Gonchar - Orpik
Eaton - Engelland
Skoula - Lovejoy

Fleury

 I am expecting Fleury to start in this one as Johnson started on Long Island yesterday afternoon. I will not run through the Penguins lineup and tell you who is dangerous and who is not because it is pretty obvious with the Pens by now.

Any pregame lineup changes prior to puck drop will be available of Twitter.

(Images courtesy of AP Photo)