Washington Capitals at New York Rangers (-140, 4.5)
(Series tied, 3-3)
While the three other second-round series flew right on by without much drama at all, the Rangers and Capitals have tried to make up for all of them. Multiple overtime games, costly late penalties, miraculous comebacks, the return to relevancy for Alexander Ovechkin - this series has had it all. And it will end under the bright lights of the big city at Madison Square Garden.
Just how good are they?
Perhaps New York shouldn’t be all that concerned about an upset. After all, the top-seeded Rangers are still alive in the East, which is more than you can say for the No. 1 club out West, Vancouver. Somehow they are finding ways to survive this postseason.
But it hasn't been pretty, and their lack of scoring depth has extended their first two series far longer than expected. You have to ask yourself, at some point, will all these losses come back to haunt them?
Last season, the Bruins, for instance, lost nine total games en route to the Stanley Cup. The season before, the Blackhawks lost six overall. Very modest numbers across four rounds. The Rangers have already lost six games this postseason and are just one game over .500 (7-6). That sound like a Cup run to you?
Also take into account this: The competition. Say what you will about Ottawa and Washington. They have provided stiff tests, no question, and have played hard throughout. But, at the end of the day, they still are the No. 8 and No. 7 seeds, respectively. That caliber of team shouldn’t be imposing its will on a No. 1 seed. Ottawa did, to a certain extent. And Washington has taken it a step further.
The Great Eight
In a postseason where Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin bowed out in Round 1, and Claude Giroux hit the skids earlier this week, Ovechkin, the biggest star left, has made the most of his stage. The point total (9) is modest compared to say, a Giroux (17), but Ovechkin has been more than a scorer against the Bruins and Rangers.
The winger has 54 hits, 48 shots on goal and 13 blocks. He's still stuck at minus-1 for the postseason across his 13 games, but has one game-winning goal and two power-play tallies.
New York is at home, has more depth, and perhaps more motivation. But without question, the Capitals have the best player in the series, and if you believe in the age-old sports cliché that says “big players make big plays in big games,” something great from No. 8 may be in store here.
Net work
Tough to find a weakness in net on either end. Henrik Lundqvist has been the Rangers' best player. He has a 1.73 goals-against average, and if he didn't stand tall in the third period of Game 5 -- allowing for the Rangers' miracle rally to happen in a 3-2 overtime win -- this series would already be over.
Braden Holtby isn't far behind with a 1.95 goals-against and for all intents and purposes, he pitched a shutout in Game 6 before the Rangers used a few deflections to post a goal late in their 2-1 loss. Holtby, a rookie, has a .930 save percentage and has truly been the darling of the postseason.
No matter what happens in New York over the weekend, it appears Washington has settled its shaky goaltending situation moving forward - he’s only 22.
History
The Capitals are winless in their previous four attempts this postseason to post consecutive victories. But Washington has won seven of the last eight Saturday games. The Rangers are just 4-9 in their last 13 Round 2 games. The over has yet to hit in this series (0-3-3).
(Series tied, 3-3)
While the three other second-round series flew right on by without much drama at all, the Rangers and Capitals have tried to make up for all of them. Multiple overtime games, costly late penalties, miraculous comebacks, the return to relevancy for Alexander Ovechkin - this series has had it all. And it will end under the bright lights of the big city at Madison Square Garden.
Just how good are they?
Perhaps New York shouldn’t be all that concerned about an upset. After all, the top-seeded Rangers are still alive in the East, which is more than you can say for the No. 1 club out West, Vancouver. Somehow they are finding ways to survive this postseason.
But it hasn't been pretty, and their lack of scoring depth has extended their first two series far longer than expected. You have to ask yourself, at some point, will all these losses come back to haunt them?
Last season, the Bruins, for instance, lost nine total games en route to the Stanley Cup. The season before, the Blackhawks lost six overall. Very modest numbers across four rounds. The Rangers have already lost six games this postseason and are just one game over .500 (7-6). That sound like a Cup run to you?
Also take into account this: The competition. Say what you will about Ottawa and Washington. They have provided stiff tests, no question, and have played hard throughout. But, at the end of the day, they still are the No. 8 and No. 7 seeds, respectively. That caliber of team shouldn’t be imposing its will on a No. 1 seed. Ottawa did, to a certain extent. And Washington has taken it a step further.
The Great Eight
In a postseason where Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin bowed out in Round 1, and Claude Giroux hit the skids earlier this week, Ovechkin, the biggest star left, has made the most of his stage. The point total (9) is modest compared to say, a Giroux (17), but Ovechkin has been more than a scorer against the Bruins and Rangers.
The winger has 54 hits, 48 shots on goal and 13 blocks. He's still stuck at minus-1 for the postseason across his 13 games, but has one game-winning goal and two power-play tallies.
New York is at home, has more depth, and perhaps more motivation. But without question, the Capitals have the best player in the series, and if you believe in the age-old sports cliché that says “big players make big plays in big games,” something great from No. 8 may be in store here.
Net work
Tough to find a weakness in net on either end. Henrik Lundqvist has been the Rangers' best player. He has a 1.73 goals-against average, and if he didn't stand tall in the third period of Game 5 -- allowing for the Rangers' miracle rally to happen in a 3-2 overtime win -- this series would already be over.
Braden Holtby isn't far behind with a 1.95 goals-against and for all intents and purposes, he pitched a shutout in Game 6 before the Rangers used a few deflections to post a goal late in their 2-1 loss. Holtby, a rookie, has a .930 save percentage and has truly been the darling of the postseason.
No matter what happens in New York over the weekend, it appears Washington has settled its shaky goaltending situation moving forward - he’s only 22.
History
The Capitals are winless in their previous four attempts this postseason to post consecutive victories. But Washington has won seven of the last eight Saturday games. The Rangers are just 4-9 in their last 13 Round 2 games. The over has yet to hit in this series (0-3-3).
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