And that is to stop — or at the very least, limit — John Tavares and linemates Kyle Okposo and Thomas Vanek, which the Blueshirts did not do a particularly good job of at all in last week’s 5-3 defeat, in which the Islanders’ powerhouse top unit combined for 12 shots, 21 attempts and three goals.
“It’s hard for me to sit here and tell you we’re going to shut them down completely, but we have to limit their looks and make each look a hard one for them,” said Derek Stepan — whose line will be matched against the Tavares unit as it was at the Garden — following the Blueshirts’ practice at their indoor rink.
“They’re a very skilled line, all three are very explosive, they can make plays and a lot of times they are highlight-reel plays,” said the center, who skates between Rick Nash and Chris Kreider. “But they also make the simple plays and work hard, so it’s a real challenge to play against them.
“We need to manage the puck well and not turn it over the way we did the last time. We’ve got to be in their face and make sure that we hold them to one look at a time.”
The look at the Stadium will be different than it was for the Rangers’ 7-3 victory over the Devils on Sunday afternoon under a gray sky. This one, already announced as a sellout by the NHL to perhaps counter a preconceived notion two outdoor games in four days at the same venue (and with the second on a weekday night, no less) is one too many, will be under the lights.
Still, the Blueshirts will be prepared.
“You have to adapt, just like you have to adapt in every game you play,” said Dominic Moore, who became the first Ranger to score at Yankee Stadium with his first-period goal on Sunday. “You can’t expect conditions to be ideal; you just accept them for what they are.
“But even indoors, nothing is ever ideal.”
Coach Alain Vigneault said he thought Henrik Lundqvist would benefit from the experience of having played at the Stadium and having already made an adjustment to the environment.
But Lundqvist will have to adjust to this one being played at night.
“The lights will be a little different, but you can get used to it,” said the King, 2-0 outdoors for his career, including the 2012 Winter Classic in Philadelphia. “You use warm-ups to try and get accustomed to the feeling.
“You don’t expect the ice to be the same level as when you play at the Garden. It’s temporary ice,” he said. “Bad bounces? You kind of have to expect that.”
The Islanders have lost three straight (0-2-1) since defeating the Blueshirts, who have split two (1-1) in the interim. The Rangers go into the match with a nine-point lead and a game in hand on the Islanders, who have six teams to leapfrog in order to make it into a playoff spot.
“No matter who we play or where we play, we don’t want to get into a game where we’re going up and down exchanging chance for chance,” said Stepan, whose line produced two even-strength goals of its own last Tuesday.
“That creates too much stress on our on our D. We have to help out those guys.
“We’ve got to play hard and be in their faces.”
Stepan, who beat Cory Schneider on a third-period penalty shot on Sunday, said he approached the analysis of his game just as he would the 80 he will play indoors this season.
“Your responsibility is the same, so it’s hard to analyze it differently,” he said. “There are certain situations you can’t control, but you try and make adjustments during the game.
“It does no good to use the ice, the wind, the snow, or what have you, as excuses. Both teams are playing on the same rink.”
And it’s the one at Yankee Stadium on which the Rangers are 1-0.