5.13.2013

Capitals Rangers Game 7 Preview


Monday night we enter a huge day for 2 NHL Eastern Conference teams. The 6th seeded New York Rangers head to Washington to play the 3rd seeded Capitals at the Verizon Center for Game 7 of round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Early in the series we saw the Caps push to a 2 games to nothing lead, only to see the Rangers come back and win the next 2 games and tie the series. Game 5 took overtime, as Mike Ribeiro proved to be the hero, scoring a loose puck goal in front of the net to put his Capitals back on top the series.Sunday in Game 6 was a defensive battle won by the Rangers 1-0, behind a 27 save shutout by Rangers goalie, Henrik Lundquist. The series currently stands tied at 3-3 and whoever gets it done tonight in Game 7 will grant themselves a 2nd round playoff berth.

Both teams have been very inconsistent thus far in the series, losing two games back to back, then winning two games in a row, losing another, and then winning the next, either way, the outcome for tonight’s game is nearly unpredictable at this point.

 For the Rangers to get it done, they will need another stellar performance from goaltender, Henrik Lundquist. If he can keep the Caps offensive production to a minimum, it will give his Rangers a chance to battle their way to another game most likely decided by a difference of only one goal. With the exception of Game 1, each game has had a one goal differential between either team, and two games have gone to overtime.

For the Caps to find success in Game 7, they will need to see their captain, Alex Ovechkin, take over and dominate the game in all aspects. Ovechkin has not scored since Game 1, and will need to again if he wants to see his team in the second round. The story all year for the Caps has been their successful powerplay. In Game 6, the Caps saw 0 powerplays, and scored 0 goals. In return, they also spent 10 minutes killing penalties. It’s no secret that staying out of the box against the Capitals will decline your goals against tally. On the other hand, if the Caps can capitalize during even strength with as many opportunities as they have the ability to create, New York will have many other problems to worry about, and won’t be able to keep up with the same amount of offensive production that the Capitals can.

A huge factor in tonight’s game will be home ice advantage. The home team has won each game thus far in the series, and Game 7 will be in Washington. In any case home ice is an advantage, and tonight's game is a prime example, based on the history of the first 6 games. There is no doubt tonight will be battle, and both teams will come out very beaten up physically, but one team will move on none the less. Expect a low scoring game decided by one goal, excusing an empty net if the opportunity arises, and maybe even overtime.
-JM Piotrowski--

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