Tonight, the Rangers host the Penguins at 33rd and 7th. They try to avoid a third straight loss. Coming off a lost weekend that featured a dreadful showing Sunday against Edmonton, they must be much better or suffer the consequences against one of the league’s best.

The Pens have won seven in a row. Still fuming from last Spring’s second round elimination, they’ll look to exact revenge. As usual, they’re the highest scoring team pacing the NHL with a whopping 4.11 goals-per-game. By contrast, they’ve only allowed 27. Marc-Andre Fleury has won 9 of 11 starts with a 1.90 goals-against-average, .931 save percentage and three shutouts.

The team in front of him helps. Sidney Crosby leads the league in scoring with 24 points. Half the production has come on the number one ranked power play clicking at a ridiculous 37.5 percent. They’re 21-for-56. Pittsburgh’s top five scorers which also include Patric Hornqvist, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang have produced mostly on the man-advantage. For the Rangers whose penalty kill is tied for 18th (79.6 percent), it’s simple. Stay out of the penalty box.

As lethal as the Pens are on the power play, they’re equally impressive on the penalty kill boasting the third rated unit. So far, they’re 46-for-52 (88.5 percent) including an active streak of 37 straight kills. Pittsburgh has scored one shorthanded goal with key checking center Brandon Sutter responsible. Curiously, Crosby and Malkin have not been asked to kill many penalties. New coach Mike Johnston has allowed his horses to focus on playing even strength and power play, opting to go mostly with Sutter, Craig Adams, Marcel Goc, Pascal Dupuis and Nick Spaling. Blake Comeau can also play PK. He’s used Crosby, Hornqvist and Kunitz sparingly. A philosophical difference from Dan Bylsma.

The Pens top tandem of Letang and Paul Martin see a bulk of the minutes with each playing power play and penalty kill. Of course, Martin is the better defensive player. So, the Rangers may want to attack Letang. Depending on which line Alain Vigneault uses unless he decides to play Marc Staal and Kevin Klein against Crosby. That in itself is an intriguing subplot. The Pens accused Staal of thuggery last Spring. Will they seek retribution with antagonist Steve Downie? That largely depends on the balance of the game.

It would help if the Rangers had Ryan McDonagh. But we won’t see him until December at the soonest. Dan Boyle indicated that his hand is still hurting but wants to play either Thursday against Colorado or Saturday at Pittsburgh. John Moore returns after a five-game suspension. He’ll slot in on the third pair with Michael Kostka. Meanwhile, Dan Girardi stays with Matt Hunwick. I wonder if during the course of the game, Vigneault changes to Girardi and Staal matching them against Crosby. But with Malkin, it’s pick your poison.

This game is also the return of Jesper Fast. Instead of Vigneault trying him with Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin, he’ll be on the fourth line with Dominic Moore and Christmas ornament Tanner Glass. You had to figure Glass wasn’t coming out with it being his former team. Plus AV has a man crush on Glass since he played for him in Vancouver. You cannot make it up. So, Anthony Duclair sits. Correcting something I said in a recent post, the Rangers can send Duclair back to Quebec City at any time. Maybe they should just do it already instead of screwing around.

If they are gonna give Fast a chance and Vigneault won’t commit to Duclair, then just let him play back in junior. Enough shenanigans. If they do that, the Rangers can recall J.T. Miller or Oscar Lindberg. If they’re going to play Fast, then play him and I don’t mean on the fourth line. Instead, Lee Stempniak is back with Hayes and Hagelin.

Your projected lines:

Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello

Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Marty St. Louis

Carl Hagelin-Kevin Hayes-Lee Stempniak

Tanner Glass-Dominic Moore-Jesper Fast

Marc Staal-Kevin Klein

Matt Hunwick-Dan Girardi

John Moore-Michael Kostka

Henrik Lundqvist

Cam Talbot