(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) New York Rangers
Season series: Rangers won 2-0-1.
They have a history: The Rangers and Capitals will meet in the playoffs for the third time in four years. Washington won two of those three series, though New York ended the Capitals’ season in seven games in the 2012 Eastern Conference semifinals.
For the Capitals to win: Washington simply needs to do what it has been doing the past two months. The Caps are the NHL’s hottest team, going 25-10-2 after a 2-8-1 start. After recording just three points in Washington’s first eight games, Alexander Ovechkin has been on fire, finishing with 56 points and a league-leading 32 goals, claiming the Maurice Richard Trophy. Ovechkin’s owned New York in the playoffs, recording 17 points in 19 postseason games against the Rangers.
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For Rangers to win: Henrik Lundqvist must play like the best goaltender in the world. In New York’s seven-game series win over Washington last year, “The King” surrendered just 13 goals. Still, New York must also play better defensively in front of Lundqvist. New York hopes to get the face of its defence, Marc Staal, back. Staal has missed New York’s last 27 games after taking a puck to the face. New York also must get secondary scoring from someone besides Rick Nash. The Rangers’ second line — Carl Hagelin-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan — has picked up the slack, recording four of New York’s last eight goals in the team’s two-game season-ending win streak.
Matchup to watch: Washington’s power play versus New York’s penalty kill. The Capitals led the NHL in power play, scoring at a 26.8 per cent clip. Of Washington’s 149 goals, 44 were scored on the man advantage. New York’s PK was the league’s 15th-best, and the Rangers took the eighth-fewest penalties this year. Washington will have to score while up a man in order to win the series.
Big question: Will Braden Holtby be able to duplicate his postseason success? The 23-year-old posted a .935 save percentage and a 1.95 goals-against average in 14 playoff games last year, leading the seventh-seeded Caps within one game of the East finals.
Best bet: Rangers in seven.
By Pat Pickens
Hockey Central insider predictions
Chris Johnston: Capitals
Mike Keenan: Rangers
Nick Kypreos: Rangers
Brad May: Rangers
Doug MacLean: Rangers
Scott Morrison: Rangers
John Shannon: Rangers
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