Playoff Round 1 Game #5 Preview: New York Rangers at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  April 23, 2011, 3:00 PM

History:           

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

All-Time Playoff Game Record vs. NYR: 18-15

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 WAS 2 NYR 0

Apr. 17, 2011 WAS 2 NYR 3

Apr. 20, 2011 WAS 4 NYR 3 (2OT)

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, 21 LAICH

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

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 90 JOHANSSON, 16 FEHR

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: 16 AVERY, 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, 22 KNUBLE (hand) DTD

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

Preview:

Washington will try to close out the series at home in Game #5. After the Game #4 double overtime comeback from 3 goals down the Capitals cannot afford to let down as the Rangers will be even more desperate this time around. Jason Chimera was the hero in Game #4 but the next game-winner for the Capitals will be even bigger. With a 3-1 series lead everyone in bringing up last year’s collapse with the same lead but this is not last year’s team. With everything that has happened this season, this team is much more prepared for these moments. Expect another tight, hard checking game. The Rangers will try to get out to a fast start offensively so look for Washington to counter. It should be interesting to see if either team can score in the first period. The previous 4 games of the series have been scoreless after 1 period. I think that Washington will have a good start and in another close game pull out the victory.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 NYR 2

Official Preview