Playoffs: #1 Washington vs #8 NY Rangers

[Thrillhouse]

Records:
Washington: 48-22-11 (107 pts) Home: 25-8-8 Away: 23-14-3
NY Rangers: 44-33-5 (93 pts) Home: 20-17-4 Away: 24-16-1

Head-To-Head:
Nov 9 - WAS 5 NYR 3
Dec 12 - WAS 0 NYR 7
Jan 24 - WAS 1 NYR 2 (SO)
Feb 25 - WAS 0 NYR 6
NY Rangers won season series 3-1.

Fighting:
Nov 9 - Mike Green vs Brandon Dubinsky
Dec 12 - Matt Hendricks vs Michael Sauer
Dec 12 - Alexander Ovechkin vs Brandon Dubinsky
Dec 12 - Matt Hendricks vs Sean Avery
Feb 25 - Michael Sauer vs Jason Chimera

Line-Up:
Goaltending: EDGE NY Rangers
Scoring: EDGE Washington
Defense: DRAW
Coaching: EDGE NY Rangers
Grit: EDGE NY Rangers

Schedule:
TBA

Prediction:
Washington's fourth straight division title looked a little different than the previous three. The run-and-gun style has been replaced with an emphasis on paying at both ends. The new-look Caps should be able to avoid first-round disappointment, but Henrik Lundqvist is more than capable of stealing a game or two. Unfortunately for New York, they're not exactly on a roll going into the post-season and the loss of Callahan really hurts. Caps in 5.

[Thrillhouse]

YouTube - Mike Green vs Brandon Dubinsky...

YouTube - Matt Hendricks vs Michael Sauer...

YouTube - Alex Ovechkin vs Brandon...

YouTube - Matt Hendricks vs Sean Avery Dec...

YouTube - Michael Sauer vs Jason Chimera...

[KiddYidd]

Have not forgotten two years ago when Ovechkin celebrated the Caps 3-1 comeback series victory on the Rangers Center Ice and I hope there is a tape of that celebration and it is being watched by every coach, player and trainer on the Rangers! That scumbag, prick Russkie needs a stick smacked right across his wrists!

Rangers in 6

[pesadillamal]

Last time these two teams played, Lundqvist almost stole a series. Unfortunately the Rangers couldn't finish the series after being up 3 games to 1. They won't make that mistake again and Lundqvist won't have to steal games. Anisimov will be a star when he adds some needed muscle, but he is not too shabby right now and should be a key player in the series. Rangers in five.

[Smerri1029]

Lundquist scares me. I can see this one going 6 or 7. A NY win wouldn't surprise me.

[ghjkfdhgfd]

Without sid, the Caps-Pitt series wouldn't matter at all, not that it did before to us at least. Im cheering on Gabby, Prust and the rest of the Minnesotan kids on NY. King Lundy will kill em.

I say 4-2 NYR win!

[SirYohans]

Originally Posted by KiddYidd

Have not forgotten two years ago when Ovechkin celebrated the Caps 3-1 comeback series victory on the Rangers Center Ice and I hope there is a tape of that celebration and it is being watched by every coach, player and trainer on the Rangers! That scumbag, prick Russkie needs a stick smacked right across his wrists!

Rangers in 6

I'd like Ryan Callahan to hobble around on his crutches and sneak into the Caps locker room before Game 1 and proceed to take a healthy shyt in Ovechkin's helmet. You know, just to set the tone for the series.

We've played the Caps very well this year and embarrassed 'em badly in 2 of the games. Henrik can and will make a difference.

I like the Rangers in 6.

[Captain Crunch28]

Gonna go deep. NYR in 7!

[thepolishkid88]

As much as I would love to see the Caps bounced, I don't think they will be. However, the loss of Callahan cant be understated. If Callahan could make it back I would take the Rangers but without him I will go with the Caps in 7.

As said before I would not be shocked by the Rangers taking this series. If the Rangers win it gives us a Rangers-Flyers series.

[T800m101]

Caps in five.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

If New York was playing Philly...New York in 5.

Against anyone else?


Caps in 5.

[djaye]

I cant stand the rags or their homers, but be real. They have had the caps number this year. Sure, Green is returning for them BUT.. I have to go with the Rags.

[Orr=God]

Callahan loss really hurts in the playoffs because he can score, hit, play pp, play pk, block shots, etc.

However Capitals goaltending is a question mark and Ovechkin, Green, and company cannot perform in the playoffs.

Rangers will ride Lundqvist and guys like Dubinsky, Prust, Boyle, Fedotenko, and Drury who will be able to grind their way to a win in 7 games.

Lets go Rangers!

*it feels great to be back in the playoffs

[BobNystromOwnsU]

I think the Rags win this series, but I still picked the Caps in the poll.

[JKidd]

I would like the Rags chances far more with Ryan Callahan in the lineup. Even with him not in, I still like the Rags. The defensive corps for the Rangers matchup very well to the Caps.

The lack of scoring is the only thing I worry about with the Rags. Derek Stepan and Brian Boyle will need to be huge players for the Rags.

Can the Euro scorers for the Caps deal with the likely physical forces the Rangers can throw at them with Prust, Boyle, Duby and Avery?

Time will tell, and I'll say Rangers in 7.