As the Rangers end a three game road trip the Pittsburg Penguins begin a three game homestand. Tonight’s tilt is nationally televised on Versus which means more people will watch poker than Marcel Hossa’s return to the Ranger lineup. Hossa is expected to play tonight after practicing on the top line with Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez.

Team chemistry is still lacking with Gomez and Chris Drury unable to find their niche on the team yet. Neither pivot has been able to work effectively with Jagr when given the opportunity. Drury is being paired with Petr Prucha and Brendan Shanahan on his wings for tonight’s matchup at the Igloo. The third line looks like Brandon Dubinsky centering Jason Dawes and Ryan Callahan. Let’s hope the old Hartford mates are hungry like the wolf and provide much needed energy up front.

As much as everybody rips the offense it should be noted that on the back end, the Rangers are set for the next decade. We all know that Henrik Lundqvist (2.14GAA/.924SV) is a lock in goal and unless he goes down with an injury for an extended period we know that he gives the Blueshirts a chance to win every game.

For all the flak that Marek Malik receives the defense is ranked fifth in the league giving up just 16 goals through seven games. Studs like Dan Girardi, Fedor Tyutin and Marc Staal are not going anywhere off the island of Manhattan for a long time. Even with the disparaged Malik and Michal Rozsival out there and Tom Pock awaiting his turn, its safe to say that the Blueshirts have the best grouping of young D talent in the league.

ST.RANGER THINGS…Tonight mark’s the first time that Staal plays professionally against his brother Jordan who scored his first goal of the years against the Caps on Saturday…Martin Straka will not need surgery on his broken finger.

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