Playoff Round #1 Game #2 Preview: New York Rangers at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  April 15, 2011, 7:30 PM

History:           

All-Time Playoff Series Record vs. NYR: 3-2

All-Time Playoff Game Record vs. NYR: 16-14

Last Meeting: 2009, WAS 4 NYR 3

This Year:

WAS Record: 48-22-11

Standings Points: 107

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st

NYR Record: 44-33-5

Standings Points: 93

Division Rank: 3rd

Conference Rank: 8th    

2010-2011 Regular Season Series: 1-2-1

Nov. 9, 2010 WAS 5 NYR 3

Dec. 12, 2010 WAS 0 NYR 7

Jan. 24, 2011 WAS 1 NYR 2 (OT-SO)

Feb. 25, 2011 WAS 0 NYR 6

Playoff Series Schedule and Results:

Apr. 13, 2011 WAS 2 NYR 1 (OT)

Apr. 15, 2011 at Washington

Apr. 17, 2011 at New York

Apr. 20, 2011 at New York

Apr. 23, 2011 at Washington*

Apr. 25, 2011 at New York*

Apr. 27, 2011 at Washington*

*If required

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 2: 18 STURM, 44 ARNOTT, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 21 LAICH, 90 JOHANSSON, 25 CHIMERA

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 23 HANNAN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 52 GREEN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

New York

Forward Line 1: 20 PROSPAL, 42 ANISIMOV, 10 GABORIK

Forward Line 2: 17 DUBINSKY, 21 STEPAN, 19 FEDOTENKO

Forward Line 3: 86 WOLKSKI, 22 BOYLE, 8 PRUST

Forward Line 4: 36 ZUCCARELLO, 26 CHRISTENSEN, 23 DRURY

Defense Pair 1: 18 STAAL, 5 GIRARDI

Defense Pair 2: 27 MCDONAGH, 38 SAUER

Defense Pair 3: 28 MCCABE, 97 GILROY

Goalie: 30 LUNDQVIST

Back-up Goalie: 29 JOHNSON

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, (upper body) IR, 6 WIDEMAN (lower body) DTD

NYR – BIRON (broken collarbone) IR, BOOGAARD (concussion) IR, FROLOV (knee) IR, CALLAHAN (ankle) IR

Preview:

The Capitals took Game #1 in overtime with Alexander Semin scoring the game winning goal. For Semin it was his first playoff goal since scoring against the Rangers in 2009. Keep watch on the Capitals second lie as I think they are the key to Washington’s success in this series. Michal Neuvirth fared quite well in his playoff debut but he needs to be aware that the Rangers have said that they need to generate more scoring chances and have vowed to get in Neuvy’s grill to do it. The defense will need to be aware of this and punish anyone taking liberties with their young goalie. Game #2 will have the same grind it out defensive tone as Game #1 so look for more board battles and clogged neutral zones. The two teams combined for 60 blocked shots in the first game so the Capitals should look to their go to the goal guys, Mike Knuble and Brooks Laich, because it looks like ugly goals are going to be the order of this series. I am thinking that the Ranger will press early in this game trying to get more offense but that will leave them vulnerable to counter attack. The Caps will exploit this and come away with another close victory.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 NYR 1

Official Preview