For the sixth time in 15 seasons, the Rangers and Capitals will meet in a playoff series starting with puck drop for Game 1 against MSG on Sunday.
The Rangers just tied for the winningest regular season campaign in franchise history with at least three wins against every other team in the NHL.
As the last team to advance to the playoffs, Washington will go head-to-head with the Presidents Trophy champions, winning the final game to claim the last wild card spot in the East.
That’s exactly what Washington’s group, which posted a minus-37 goal differential, the worst of any playoff club in 33 years, wanted to accomplish.
Gone are the days of Alex Ovechkin loitering at the top of the left circle, teeing up power-play shots that would eventually crash into the net.
He may still lead the team in power-play goals at age 38, but he ranks 18th overall on a unit that went 0-for-10 against the Rangers.
The Capitals, on the other hand, will need to be perfectly disciplined in this game if they want to avoid the Rangers’ ferocious power play that led the NHL in conversions through the last 20 games.
Would you bet on the NHL?
Say what you will about the question marks surrounding the Rangers’ 5-on-5 play this postseason, but they outscored the Caps, who finished 25th overall in expected goals, by 33 goals.
Charlie Lindgren has been pulling this team between the pipes, but there’s only so much he can do against a complete line of four.
Moreover, he is already rowing upriver, racing the stoic Igor Shesterkin on the other side.
THE PLAY: Rangers -1.5 (+116, FanDuel)
