When: Thursday, October 20, 9:30 p.m.

Opponent: @Calgary (2-3-0)

TV: MSG

UPDATE: Lundqvist will start for the Rangers, Henrik Karlsson will be in net for the Flames. (12:56 p.m.)

Another Slow Start Might Not Cut It Against Calgary

The New York Rangers will be hoping to ride the momentum from their surprising 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks when they visit the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday night.

Despite another parade to the penalty box and a meager total of just nine shots on goal through two periods, the Blueshirts managed to pick up their first win of the season thanks mostly to superstar goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

Calgary is nowhere near the caliber opponent of Vancouver, but if New York delivers the same type of effort it did on Tuesday then it likely won’t receive the same result.

The Rangers cannot rely on Lundqvist to carry them –it’s possible that Martin Biron could make his first start of the season against Calgary – and they cannot afford the same poor offensive performance and undisciplined play that has plagued them throughout the season.

Calgary is a team on the decline, but the Flames still boast a solid blueline, a strong goalie in Miikka Kiprusoff and one of the NHL’s best players in 34-year-old Jarome Iginla.

After dropping their first two games, Calgary has won two out of its last three and has given up just four goals in its last three games.  The Flames are also 16 for their last 17 on the penalty kill, bad news for the Blueshirts who have still yet to pick up a power play goal this season.

Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and company must corral Iginla, but this could be one of the easier matchups they’ve faced this season.  After facing Anze Kopitar, Anaheim’s line of Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, and the Sedin twins, Calgary’s offense - with top-line center Olli Jokinen - could represent a nice little break for the Rangers.

While New York may not need to score five goals to beat the Flames, the team desperately needs to get going offensively and is in dire need of a strong start.  The top duo of Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik has produced in every game this season, but until the third period on Tuesday night New York hadn’t gotten nearly enough secondary scoring. 

If the Blueshirts continue to play solid defense and receive superior goaltending they could put their season-opening three game losing streak behind them and head to Edmonton for Saturday’s visit to Tom Renney with a fresh two-game winning streak.

- It’s unlikely that Wojtek Wolski or Mike Sauer will return to the lineup.

- Former Rangers’ prospect Roman Horak, traded for Tim Erixon in June, should be in the lineup for Calgary.

2011-2012 season:

Eastern Conference Preview > (10/3/11)

Western Conference Preview > (10/4/11)

Experts Predict Where The Rangers Will Finish > (10/5/11)

NY Rangers Season Preview > (10/5/11)

Rangers Claim Jeff Woywitka Off Waivers > (10/6/11) 

“The King” Vs. The Kings In Season-Opener > (10/7/11)

Penalties Doom Rangers In OT Loss To Kings > (10/7/11)

To Duck Anaheim, Rangers Must Stay Out Of The Box > (10/7/11)

No Offense, But Rangers Pick Up Another Point > (10/8/11)

Tim Erixon Will Stick Around For The Time Being > (10/9/11)

Lessons Learned: Two Games In The Books > (10/10/11)

Time To Move Stepan To First-Line Left Wing > (10/10/11)

Rangers Show Early Improvement With Faceoffs > (10/11/11)

Missing Vinny > (10/13/11)

Rangers Must Find A Way With Patchwork Defense > (10/14/11)

New Top Line Shows Promise, But Rangers Have No Answer For John Tavares > (10/15/11)

Stats To Chew On > (10/17/11)

Zuccarello's Future On Broadway In Doubt > (10/17/11)

Rangers Must Slow The Sedins, Score Some Goals > (10/18/11)

Henrik Lundqvist Beats The Canucks, With A Little Help In The Third Period > (10/19/11)

All Is Not Well In Ranger-land > (10/19/11)

Another Slow Start Might Not Cut It Against Calgary > (10/19/11)

Click here for our full 2011-2012 Season Archive >

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