The Rangers are one of the best teams in the EC - by record if not by the numbers. They're buoyed by the superb goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist, but have had trouble scoring. Like the Flames, they're prone to getting crushed by stronger opponents, but tend to pull out close wins against the rest of the pack.
Warren Peters has been called up for his cup of coffee now that Prust is out with a fractured jaw. I expect he'll get in the line-up at some point over Andre Roy, who continues to be passed over by Keenan at every opportunity. Peters "made" the team out of camp last season, but never played a game before being sent back down to the farm. He's one of the "vets" on the baby Flames, and, while he doesn't have a very high ceiling, probably won't be too much of a liability. I think Peters was taken over guys like Greentree, Chucko and Lundmark partially due to perceived role fit (grider over scorers) and partially because it won't hurt the already mediocre QC Flames as much to have Peters sitting in the big team's press-box.
Something to watch going forward is the Regehr/Aucoin partnership. Not only because the duo has been absolutely lights out since they got together (I know...it's hard to believe), but because it renders Cory Sarich an overpaid third-pairing defenseman. And although we do so love our expensive third pairing guys around here, Sarich will become trade bait if this continues methinks. Especially with Pardy improving and Vandermeer coming back eventually.
Sarich is the kind of player who is nearly useless in the offensive zone. If he isn't shutting down reasonably good competition, he's grossly over-compensated therefore. Of course, all of this is moot if the pixie dust wears off of the Reggie/Aucoin pairing.
Prediction - Flames take this one, 3-1. Iginla, Lombardi and Giordano for Calgary. Zherdev for the Rags.
Go Flames.
