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NY RANGERS |
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| Eastern Conference Semifinals - Best of 7 - Game 1 | |
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| 55 | WASHINGTON | +150 | Ov 5,+100 | +145 | Ov 5,+110 | | 56 | NY RANGERS | -170 | Un 5,-120 | -165 | Un 5,-130 |
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| All Games | 49-40-0 | 0 | 49-40 | 0 | 40-45 | 2.9 | 29.7 | 2.4 | 28.8 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 24-21-0 | +5.1 | 24-21 | +5.1 | 18-24 | 2.8 | 29.4 | 2.6 | 30.6 | | Last 5 Games | 3-2-0 | +1.2 | 3-2 | +1.2 | 1-4 | 2.2 | 32.2 | 1.6 | 30.2 | | Playoff Games | 4-3-0 | +0.8 | 4-3 | +0.8 | 2-5 | 2.3 | 31.6 | 2.1 | 28.4 | | vs. Division | 21-16-0 | +1 | 21-16 | +1 | 15-20 | 2.8 | 29.3 | 2.3 | 28.9 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 89 | 258 | 71 | 91 | 85 | 11 | 16 | 2640 | 9.8% | 250 | 62 | 24.8% | 443 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 45 | 126 | 29 | 46 | 45 | 6 | 9 | 1321 | 9.5% | 125 | 29 | 23.2% | 212 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 161 | 6.8% | 10 | 1 | 10.0% | 22 | | Team Stats (Playoffs) | 7 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 221 | 7.2% | 13 | 2 | 15.4% | 29 | | Team Stats (vs. Division) | 37 | 104 | 33 | 24 | 42 | 5 | 7 | 1084 | 9.6% | 110 | 21 | 19.1% | 180 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 218 | 65 | 76 | 65 | 12 | 11 | 2567 | 8.5% | 280 | 50 | 17.9% | 379 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | | 116 | 33 | 45 | 31 | 7 | 5 | 1375 | 8.4% | 150 | 30 | 20.0% | 208 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 151 | 5.3% | 11 | 0 | 0.0% | 15 | | Stats Against (Playoffs) | | 15 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 199 | 7.5% | 14 | 0 | 0.0% | 27 | | Stats Against (vs. Division) | | 84 | 29 | 24 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 1071 | 7.8% | 111 | 17 | 15.3% | 153 |
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| PHILIPP GRUBAUER (All Games) | 2 | 2 | 46 | 41 | 89.1% | 0 | 2-0 | +2 | 2-0-0 | +2 | 1-1 | | PHILIPP GRUBAUER (Road Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | PHILIPP GRUBAUER (vs. Division) | 1 | 1 | 21 | 18 | 85.7% | 0 | 1-0 | +1 | 1-0-0 | +1 | 1-0 | | PHILIPP GRUBAUER (Last 4 Games) | 2 | 2 | 46 | 41 | 89.1% | 0 | 2-0 | +2 | 2-0-0 | +2 | 1-1 | | PHILIPP GRUBAUER (Playoff Games) | 1 | 1 | 21 | 18 | 85.7% | 0 | 1-0 | +1 | 1-0-0 | +1 | 1-0 | | BRADEN HOLTBY (All Games) | 79 | 78 | 2220 | 2053 | 92.5% | 9 | 44-34 | +1.2 | 44-34-0 | +1 | 32-43 | | BRADEN HOLTBY (Road Games) | 41 | 40 | 1234 | 1141 | 92.5% | 3 | 23-17 | +7.5 | 23-17-0 | +7 | 14-24 | | BRADEN HOLTBY (vs. Division) | 35 | 35 | 1018 | 945 | 92.8% | 3 | 19-16 | -1 | 19-16-0 | -1 | 13-20 | | BRADEN HOLTBY (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 108 | 103 | 95.4% | 0 | 3-1 | +2.2 | 3-1-0 | +2 | 1-3 | | BRADEN HOLTBY (Playoff Games) | 6 | 6 | 176 | 166 | 94.3% | 0 | 3-3 | -0.2 | 3-3-0 | 0 | 1-5 | | JUSTIN PETERS (All Games) | 12 | 9 | 294 | 259 | 88.1% | 0 | 3-6 | -3.3 | 3-6-0 | -3 | 7-1 | | JUSTIN PETERS (Road Games) | 5 | 5 | 137 | 119 | 86.9% | 0 | 1-4 | -2.4 | 1-4-0 | -2 | 4-0 | | JUSTIN PETERS (vs. Division) | 1 | 1 | 27 | 24 | 88.9% | 0 | 1-0 | +1 | 1-0-0 | +1 | 1-0 | | JUSTIN PETERS (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 2 | 96 | 88 | 91.7% | 0 | 1-1 | +0.6 | 1-1-0 | +1 | 2-0 | | JUSTIN PETERS (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 |
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| All Games | 57-30-0 | +21.5 | 57-30 | +21.5 | 40-36 | 3.0 | 31.4 | 2.3 | 29.3 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 27-17-0 | +2.7 | 27-17 | +2.7 | 22-18 | 3.0 | 32.2 | 2.4 | 29.8 | | Last 5 Games | 4-1-0 | +2.2 | 4-1 | +2.2 | 1-4 | 2.2 | 30.0 | 1.6 | 26.4 | | Playoff Games | 4-1-0 | +2.2 | 4-1 | +2.2 | 1-4 | 2.2 | 30.0 | 1.6 | 26.4 | | vs. Division | 27-8-0 | +18.2 | 27-8 | +18.2 | 16-15 | 3.0 | 31.9 | 2.2 | 29.8 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 87 | 263 | 89 | 76 | 86 | 12 | 16 | 2732 | 9.6% | 252 | 42 | 16.7% | 433 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 44 | 132 | 43 | 38 | 44 | 7 | 6 | 1417 | 9.3% | 131 | 22 | 16.8% | 215 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 150 | 7.3% | 20 | 3 | 15.0% | 22 | | Team Stats (Playoffs) | 5 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 150 | 7.3% | 20 | 3 | 15.0% | 22 | | Team Stats (vs. Division) | 35 | 106 | 38 | 26 | 33 | 9 | 8 | 1118 | 9.5% | 125 | 18 | 14.4% | 175 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 200 | 55 | 70 | 68 | 7 | 11 | 2549 | 7.8% | 248 | 39 | 15.7% | 339 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | | 105 | 21 | 46 | 33 | 5 | 8 | 1311 | 8.0% | 121 | 20 | 16.5% | 175 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 6.1% | 13 | 2 | 15.4% | 16 | | Stats Against (Playoffs) | | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 6.1% | 13 | 2 | 15.4% | 16 | | Stats Against (vs. Division) | | 76 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 1044 | 7.3% | 104 | 15 | 14.4% | 130 |
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| HENRIK LUNDQVIST (All Games) | 51 | 51 | 1460 | 1349 | 92.4% | 3 | 34-17 | +13 | 34-17-0 | +13 | 23-20 | | HENRIK LUNDQVIST (Home Games) | 29 | 29 | 837 | 771 | 92.1% | 3 | 18-11 | +2.1 | 18-11-0 | +1 | 15-11 | | HENRIK LUNDQVIST (vs. Division) | 23 | 23 | 685 | 638 | 93.1% | 1 | 18-5 | +12.3 | 18-5-0 | +12 | 10-10 | | HENRIK LUNDQVIST (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 107 | 100 | 93.5% | 0 | 3-1 | +1.2 | 3-1-0 | +1 | 1-3 | | HENRIK LUNDQVIST (Playoff Games) | 5 | 5 | 132 | 124 | 93.9% | 0 | 4-1 | +2.2 | 4-1-0 | +2 | 1-4 | | MACKENZIE SKAPSKI (All Games) | 2 | 2 | 45 | 44 | 97.8% | 0 | 2-0 | +2 | 2-0-0 | +2 | 0-2 | | MACKENZIE SKAPSKI (Home Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | MACKENZIE SKAPSKI (vs. Division) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | MACKENZIE SKAPSKI (Last 4 Games) | 2 | 2 | 45 | 44 | 97.8% | 0 | 2-0 | +2 | 2-0-0 | +2 | 0-2 | | MACKENZIE SKAPSKI (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | CAMERON TALBOT (All Games) | 36 | 34 | 1038 | 961 | 92.6% | 4 | 21-13 | +6.6 | 21-13-0 | +7 | 17-14 | | CAMERON TALBOT (Home Games) | 17 | 15 | 470 | 439 | 93.4% | 3 | 9-6 | +0.6 | 9-6-0 | +3 | 7-7 | | CAMERON TALBOT (vs. Division) | 13 | 12 | 356 | 331 | 93.0% | 2 | 9-3 | +5.8 | 9-3-0 | +6 | 6-5 | | CAMERON TALBOT (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 110 | 99 | 90.0% | 0 | 2-2 | -1 | 2-2-0 | -1 | 4-0 | | CAMERON TALBOT (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: WASHINGTON 3.09, NY RANGERS 3.04 |
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| 4/4/2015 | at OTTAWA | 3-4 | L | 0, -105 | L | 5.5 un | O | | 4/5/2015 | at DETROIT | 2-1 | W | 0, +125 | W | 5.5 un | U | | 4/8/2015 | BOSTON | 3-0 | W | 0, +100 | W | 5 un | U | | 4/11/2015 | NY RANGERS | 2-4 | L | 0, -155 | L | 5 ev | O | | 4/15/2015 | NY ISLANDERS | 1-4 | L | 0, -135 | L | 5.5 un | U | | 4/17/2015 | NY ISLANDERS | 4-3 | W | 0, -120 | W | 5.5 un | O | | 4/19/2015 | at NY ISLANDERS | 1-2 | L | 0, +120 | L | 5.5 un | U | | 4/21/2015 | at NY ISLANDERS | 2-1 | W | 0, +115 | W | 5.5 un | U | | 4/23/2015 | NY ISLANDERS | 5-1 | W | 0, -140 | W | 5 ov | O | | 4/25/2015 | at NY ISLANDERS | 1-3 | L | 0, +120 | L | 5 ov | U | | 4/27/2015 | NY ISLANDERS | 2-1 | W | 0, -145 | W | 5 ov | U | | 4/30/2015 | at NY RANGERS | | | 5/2/2015 | at NY RANGERS | | | 5/4/2015 | NY RANGERS | | | 5/6/2015 | NY RANGERS | |
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| 4/4/2015 | NEW JERSEY | 6-1 | W | 0, -250 | W | 5 un | O | | 4/6/2015 | COLUMBUS | 4-3 | W | 0, -205 | W | 5.5 un | O | | 4/7/2015 | at NEW JERSEY | 4-2 | W | 0, -155 | W | 5 un | O | | 4/9/2015 | OTTAWA | 0-3 | L | 0, -105 | L | 5 ov | U | | 4/11/2015 | at WASHINGTON | 4-2 | W | 0, +135 | W | 5 ev | O | | 4/16/2015 | PITTSBURGH | 2-1 | W | 0, -185 | W | 5 ov | U | | 4/18/2015 | PITTSBURGH | 3-4 | L | 0, -180 | L | 5 ov | O | | 4/20/2015 | at PITTSBURGH | 2-1 | W | 0, -125 | W | 5 un | U | | 4/22/2015 | at PITTSBURGH | 2-1 | W | 0, -120 | W | 5 un | U | | 4/24/2015 | PITTSBURGH | 2-1 | W | 0, -180 | W | 5 un | U | | 4/30/2015 | WASHINGTON | | | 5/2/2015 | WASHINGTON | | | 5/4/2015 | at WASHINGTON | | | 5/6/2015 | at WASHINGTON | |
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| |  | WASHINGTON: LAST SEASON: 38-30-14, 90 points. Missed the playoffs by finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference.
COACH: Barry Trotz, 1st season with Capitals; 16th overall in NHL, 557-479-60-100.
ADDED: Trotz, GM Brian MacLellan, D Brooks Orpik, D Matt Niskanen, G Justin Peters.
LOST: Coach Adam Oates, GM George McPhee, C Mikhail Grabovski, LW Dustin Penner, G Jaroslav Halak.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Alex Ovechkin, as always. The three-time league MVP led the NHL with 51 goals last season, but his plus-minus of minus-35 was third-worst in the league. Trotz plans to move Ovechkin back to left wing and also hopes to cajole more of a team game from the Russian forward.
OUTLOOK: It was deflating enough for the talented Capitals to lose in the early rounds of the playoffs every year, but last season they didn't make the postseason at all, a failure that cost Oates and McPhee their jobs. Orpik and Niskanen should stabilize the blue line, but nothing is more crucial in Washington than the relationship between Ovechkin and the coach du jour. Trotz is Ovechkin's first NHL head coach with prior head coaching experience elsewhere in the league, giving him the cachet to make demands of his players - and to expect them to be met. | | NY RANGERS: LAST SEASON: 45-31-6, 96 points. Finished 2nd in Metropolitan Division, 5th in Eastern Conference. Lost to Los Angeles Kings in Stanley Cup finals.
COACH: Alain Vigneault, 2nd season with Rangers (45-31-6); 13th overall in NHL (467-319-102).
ADDED: D Dan Boyle, D Mike Kostka, D Matt Hunwick, C Chris Mueller, LW Tanner Glass, G Cedrick Desjardins, C Matthew Lombardi, RW Lee Stempniak, LW Ryan Malone.
LOST: C Brad Richards, RW Derek Dorsett, C Brian Boyle, D Anton Stralman, LW Benoit Pouliot, D Justin Falk, RW Arron Asham, LW Daniel Carcillo, D Raphael Diaz, C Darroll Powe.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Rick Nash. The top forward will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing postseason in which the 2002 No. 1 draft notched only three goals and 10 points in 25 games and heard boos from the crowd. The 30-year-old left wing has come to training camp looking thinner and fitter as he heads into his third season with the Rangers. Nash has four seasons left for big money on his current contract, so there is plenty of time for him to win over the Madison Square Garden faithful.
OUTLOOK: The Rangers will go as far as goalie Henrik Lundqvist, ''The King,'' will take them. The team has undergone major changes since the run to the finals, but with the strong core of returning veterans such as Nash, Martin St. Louis, and defensemen Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh, fortified by newcomers Dan Boyle, Lee Stempniak and Ryan Malone, New York could again be a tough out in the playoffs. A new captain is expected to be announced at the start of the season to replace the trio of alternate captains that took leadership roles after former captain Ryan Callahan was traded to Tampa Bay late last season for St. Louis. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW (WASHINGTON-NY RANGERS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Edits second graf.)
*Capitals-Rangers Preview* ==========================
By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer
Washington At Ny Rangers, Game One, 7:30 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals are becoming one of the NHL's annual spring attractions.
For the fourth time in five years and fifth time in seven, the Eastern Conference clubs are meeting in the playoffs. If history is any indicator, expect a long series. The last two have gone seven games, with the Rangers winning both in 2012 and `13.
This year's best-of-seven conference semifinal gets underway Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
"It's just a rivalry between the two teams, facing each other," Rangers center Derick Brassard said. "We have the same core, they have the same core. We know a lot of their players. They know a lot of our players. It's going to be a tough series. It's going to be a big test for us to see how big we want to compete.
"I think this team is ready for another challenge."
New York, which won the Presidents' Trophy as the league's top team in the regular season and knocked off Pittsburgh in five games in the first round, beat Washington three of four times in the regular season. The last win was on the final day of the regular season and it temporarily denied Washington home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. The Caps got it later that night when the Islanders lost to Columbus, and they were at home Monday night when they beat the Isles 2-1 in Game 7 of their first-round series.
"They've changed. We've changed," Capitals forward Joel Ward said. "The only things that haven't changed are the buildings and the uniforms. They've got a new coach. We've got a new coach. They've got new players. We've got new players. So it's a whole different ballgame."
When the teams last met in the playoffs, Adam Oates coached the Capitals and John Tortorella led the Rangers.
Barry Trotz is finishing his first season as the Capitals coach. He has combined the team's physical play with an aggressive forecheck, transforming them into one of the league's top defensive teams.
Vigneault's Rangers are a high-tempo north-south team that likes to get the puck out of its end and go on the attack.
"We can't try to play their game - they have an extremely fast team, they have great transition," Capitals forward Brooks Laich said. "We don't want to get into that type of a run-and-gun game. We just want to stick to our identity."
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OUTING OVECHKIN
Beating the Caps starts with limiting Ovechkin. The league's leading goal scorer had five of his 53 goals against the Rangers this season. He has 22 goals in 39 career regular-season games against New York, and 10 goals in 26 career playoff games.
In New York, defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi will be his constant companions.
"I think we have the perfect defensemen core to play him, and I think he knows that as well," Brassard said. "I think he knows McDonagh and Girardi pretty well from now on, and those guys enjoy playing against him because he brings the best out of them. We just have to play him tight and we have to make sure when he is on the power play we are aware where he is all the time. He has that big shot and it seems like he wants to be a difference this year."
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HANK VS. HOLTS
Braden Holtby has played in 14 playoff games against the Rangers with a 2.06 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. He is coming off a career season with 41 wins, nine shutouts and .923 save percentage.
Henrik Lundqvist, who missed two months with a vascular injury before returning late in the season, allowed only one goal in each of the Rangers' four wins over Pittsburgh. His best game was in the clincher in Game 5 when he saved 37 of 38 shots.
"I've never been a guy who really sees a heated rivalry between a goalie on one side or the other," Holtby said. "It's team-wise that you focus on more. But I like playing against guys who do great things professionally, and not only their work on the ice, but off the ice - good humans. And obviously Henrik is."
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DEPTH IS GOOD
With Mats Zuccarello sidelined indefinitely after being hit in the head with a shot, the Rangers top line will have a new right wing - Martin St. Louis. Not too shabby. Take out a fan favorite and replace him with a third-liner who was the NHL's leading scorer in 2003-04. St. Louis had 21 goals and 31 assists in 72 games this season. Look for James Sheppard to  the fourth line. Also expect defenseman Kevin Klein to return to the Rangers lineup after missing nearly two months with a broken arm.
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CAPITALS PP
The Capitals had 60 goals on the power play this season with Ovechkin netting 25. In the opening round Washington was 2 of 13 with the extra skater against the Islanders. The key for the Rangers will be to stay out of the penalty box. They did a good job against the Penguins, taking 13 minors and allowing just two goals. New York converted on 3 of 20 power-plays chances. The Capitals were outstanding on the penalty kill in the opening round, not allowing a goal in 14 chances.
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X FACTOR
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the winner in Game 7 against the Islanders and had three goals in the series. The 22-year-old Russian looks ready for prime time after a quiet 10-goal regular season.
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AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich in Washington contributed to this report.
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| | Last Updated: 5/18/2024 12:03:55 PM EST. |
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