**Rating system for “Plus/Minus” Series**a
+3 = Major Upgradea
+2 = Upgrade
+1 = Slight Upgrade
0 = Same as prior year
-1 = Slight Dowgrade
-2 = Downgrade
-3 = Major Downgrade

Team: New York Rangers
2010-11: 93 points, #8 in Eastern Conference

GOALIES

Returning: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron

Arrivals: N / A
Departures: N / A

Grade: 0

The Rangers were 1 of only 7 teams to give up less than 200 goals in 2010-11. They will enter the 2011-12 season with the same goaltending tandem.

DEFENSE

Returning: Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer, Steve Eminger, Michael Del Zotto

Arrivals: Tim Erixon
Departures: Bryan McCabe, Matt Gilroy

Grade: +1

Matt Gilroy was deemed expendable because Ryan McDonagh was excellent in the 40 games he played. A full year from McDonagh is definitely an upgrade over the inconsistent Gilroy. The Rangers are also confident that offseason acquisition Tim Erixon (acquired via trade) can step right into the top 6 and produce like a veteran.

FORWARDS

Returning: Marian Gaborik, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Artem Anisimov, Brian Boyle, Derek Stepan, Ruslan Fedotenko, Wojtek Wolski, Brandon Prust, Sean Avery, Erik Christensen, Mats Zuccarello

Arrivals: Brad Richards, Mike Rupp
Departures: Alex Frolov, Vinny Prospal, Chris Drury

Grade: +2

The Rangers landed the big fish of the UFAs in Brad Richards. He immediately elevates the play of everyone around him, helps the powerplay and brings Stanley Cup experience. The only reason I hesitated to give New York a +3 grade up front is because of his concussion issues. Last season, the Rangers boasted 5 forwards who had 20+ goals, and Anisimov scored 18 – yet their leading point getter couldn’t even crack 55. That will change this year, that’s for sure.

OVERALL RATING: +3
2011-12 Prediction: #5-#7 in Eastern Conference

The Rangers have a nice blend of quality veterans and solid young players. They are a team on the rise that is only continue to get better. 

Well, it’s official!  The Rangers have avoided arbitration with cornerstone forward Brandon Dubinsky.  Four years, $16.8 million seemed to work for both sides as the hearing was approaching on Thursday.  This bodes well for the Rangers, who have now successfully re-signed 3 of 4 RFA players who filed for arbitration.  The only one left is potential captain, Ryan Callahan, who is scheduled to go up before the arbitrator on July 28th.  The previous filers for salary evaluation were Brian Boyle and Mike Sauer, who both came to terms with the club earlier in the offseason.

Callahan is likely going to make about the same amount as Doobie, which could put the Rags in a precarious cap position, but with the youth movement afoot, it shouldn’t hamper the team’s efforts this season.  My belief is that Cally will settle out of court, and we’ll have our core intact entering the upcoming season.  The only question remaining is what will happen to Wojtek Wolski, who many believe should be bought out.  I am not of this opinion, as I believe there is too much potential upside in the young winger to give up on him so early into his Broadway stint.  Size, speed, and a heckuva shot make him a project worth continuing with.  He will benefit greatly from a full training camp with the Rangers, and will face less pressure now that the Blueshirts have Brad Richards on board to bolster the first line offensive attack.

The main considerations now are cap-related.  There will need to be some money dropped for the Rangers to give themselves some space in case of injuries, and while divesting themselves of Chris Drury via buyout, they still need to trim some fat.

I am very happy with letting Bryan McCabe go, as he was completely useless once acquired from the Florida Panthers last year.  I am perfectly content with Wade Redden rotting in the minors.  But, we do have a logjam of prospects who could vie for a spot on the team out of camp, and keeping them buried in either the AHL or juniors, or college could potentially sour them on their future with the Rangers.

I’d like to see Sean Avery gone, as Brandon Prust fills his role with more upside.  Avery didn’t play his usual reckless style last year, and one has to wonder if he and Tortorella can co-exist on the same team.  He wasn’t hitting, wasn’t causing headaches for the opposition with his candid comments.  He simply became a non-factor, and that’s not why the team brought him back from Dallas.

The untimely death of Derek Boogaard (RIP) opens a spot for a fighter, and perhaps that could be Dylan McIlrath, who the Rangers oddly picked in the first round of the 2010 entry draft (10th overall – yeesh!).  But, those are questions that will have to remain unanswered until camp opens up.

Other than these key elements, the Rangers look poised to be a good team this season, and while I would definitely not lay any serious cash on them winning the Cup this year, they are definitely on the right track, and could stun some of the more conventionally picked contenders.

Until next time,

Na Zdravi,

DR

Rangers’ General Manager Glen Sather is like a kid in a candy store each July when free agents hit the market.

He’s got a knack for putting his faith [and checkbook] in the wrong name brands though and instead brought bubblegum busts to Broadway at overinflated expense. Wade Redden, Scott Gomez and Chris Drury are just a mere sampling.

The Rangers have roughly $22 million to dish out for salaries this summer but also some important restricted free agents they need to lock up before venturing out to make a splash in the unrestricted free agent market. While the recent increase of the salary cap to $64.3 million ,the Blueshirts still have some bloated contracts on the books that should be shed in order for serious investment in the future to begin.

Here are some Dos and Don’ts that Slats should keep in mind come July 1.

Do lock up restricted free agents Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan and Michael Sauer. Dubinsky and Callahan are a perfect second line tandem. They also represent the blue collar future of the organization. Sauer wasn’t always noticeable last season..in a good way. The rookie seemed to blend in and protect Lundqvist’s net seamlessly while throwing his weight around.

Don’t give up on restricted free agents Brian Boyle and Artem Anisimov just yet. Although perhaps less pressing, both forwards have potential to get the puck in the net. Boyle has the right physical presence while Anisimov seems to click with Dubinsky and Callahan. If they can be locked in at the right price while leaving room for future deals, go for it.

Don’t discount the value of veteran winger Ruslan Fedotenko. The unrestricted free agent (a $1 million cap hit) was a sparkplug at times last season and really embraced the “grind it out” mantra. A second serving could be in order.

Do set the captain on a new course. Jesse Spector of the New York Daily News does a fine job explaining [in English] what the Chris Drury buyout situation fully entails. Waivers, salary cap, no movement clauses, injury reserve and all. In a nutshell, no matter what, Drury won’t be hitting the ice in blue come October. The over paid and injury plagued captain hasn’t been able to live up to his $7 million salary bestowed on him.The Rangers should still be able to pursue Richards regardless of whether he’s bought out now or sent to the curb later. (Next summer he becomes an unrestricted free agent.) “If the Rangers buy out Drury, they will save $3,333,333 against the 2011-12 salary cap, including this summer’s offseason cap. If he is medically precluded from being bought out, his $7.05 million charge will apply all summer, but the Rangers will be allowed to exceed the regular-season cap of $64.3 million by that much once he is placed on LTIR at the start of the season.” – Daily News

Do whatever it takes to get defenseman Wade Redden’s yearly $6.5 million cap hit off the books. He spent last season in the AHL, so finding a taker will be difficult. But teams below the salary cap floor might be willing to take a chance on the veteran. The Florida Panthers took Brian Campbell off the Blackhawks hands via a trade last week. So it’s not impossible, just highly unlikely. Insert unhappy smiley emoticon.

Don’t waste any money resigning Bryan McCabe. The unrestricted free agent veteran acquired in a trade last winter was unimpressive on the power play and not particularly utilized on defense either. His minutes paled in comparison to the Staal/Girardi duo.

Do consider making a go at unrestricted free agent defenseman Tomas Kaberle. The 33-year-old could bring a touch of experience and offense to the blue line. He didn’t always look particularly comfortable after landing on the Bruins via a trade, but shined in the playoffs en route to the B’s Stanley Cup. A shorter term, non-Redden esque deal is worth a try.

Don’t lose sleep over restricted free agents Matt Gilroy and Steve Eminger. Neither defenseman was consistently impressive or given the trust of Coach John Tortorella to keep a spot in the lineup. Gilroy’s hefty $1.75 million contract just can’t stay on the books despite his jump in play during the playoffs. Set ‘em free to shine elsewhere.

Do prioritize getting a first rate center with skillful hands to get sniper Marian Gaborik and the power play going.

Don’t expect Brad Richards to be the answer. Throwing the 31-year-old — on the heels of a concussion and one awkward head hit away from an altered career — a long term, front loaded, overblown $6 million contract has déjà vu written all over it. He had respectable numbers last season, 28 goals and 49 assists in 72 games. And also won the Conn Smythe trophy under John Tortorella when the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup back in 2004. But can he handle the offensive-playmaking weight that will be thrust on his shoulders in the Broadway spotlight? As Ranger fans well know, all that glitters isn’t necessarily gold. A less risky and shorter term deal would be the best scenario but the most unlikely to achieve landing the most prized center this free agent summer has to offer.

Do invest in youthful starpower. If giving up some prospects, a piece of the core cake and some moola meant stealing restricted free agent and phenom forward Steven Stamkos right from under Tampa Bay’s nose, do it. He’s the kind of young forward of the future who can take the hits (i.e. returning to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final after his nose got smashed by a speeding puck) that would be worth the cash. Next summer, buzz names like Patrick Sharp and Capitals’ winger Alex Semin become unrestricted free agents. While risky in his consistency and tendency to take bad penalties, Semin is another promising scorer the Rangers should keep on their radar and keep cash stashed under the pillow for.

Do keep eyes peeled for some scoring depth on the wing, especially if it’s possible to unload the invisible Wojtek Wolski. Perhaps sign Hurricanes’ Jussi Jokinen or make a run at Flyers’ Ville Leino on the cheap. Keep fingers crossed that it doesn’t turn out to be a Frolov or Zherdev experiment gone awry.

Don’t lose patience. The kids are alright. Ranger fans appreciate the hardworking, homegrown products that are now the core of the team. Keep developing the youth while shopping for the right skilled hands to man the top line.

The New York Rangers might not be making a big splash at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft with a 15th overall pick. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the other buzz names will all be scooped up early. But they still have the opportunity to land a scoring forward of the future to bring some depth. Rather than muscle, the Blueshirts should focus on hands, i.e. bringing in potential scoring talent. The blueline has so much promise, now it’s time to build up skill and playmaking.

Below are some projections from around the web on who could be pulling a Blueshirt over their head Friday night.

Via NHL.com ’s writers:

Adam Kimelman and Devin Persaud’s pick -> Boone Jenner, C, Oshawa (OHL) “Big center who does everything right, from scoring goals to killing penalties.” “Hard-working forward fits the mold of current Rangers Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan.”

Mike Morreale’s pick –>Mark McNeill, C, Prince Albert (WHL) “Tough and talented, 32 goals, 81 points in 70 games”

Steven Hoffner’s pick –> Mika Zibanejad, C, Djurgarden (SWE) “Rangers are in need of scoring, and Zibanejad is a forward with great hands.”

Via The Hockey News : Joel Armia, RW, Assat (FIN) ”Budding power forward from Finland is lethal with man advantage and not afraid to shoot the puck”

Via TSN ’s Pierre McGuire –> Mark McNeill, C, Prince Albert (OHL) “McNeill is one of those players that can do a lot of great things offensively. But if you look at his 57 point increase this year, you’re looking at a heck of a player.”

Via our own Corey Krakower of Pro Sports Blogging — > Mark Scheifele, C, Barrie (OHL) “Hard working forward, provides size and determination up front” –NHL.com

My pick – >Give Mark McNeill a chance to wear red, white and blue…assuming he’s not grabbed up by the Stars or Flames. At 6-2 and 210 pounds, the physical forward can make an impact fast and fits the black and blue style work ethic the Rangers want to maintain. He can be a happy medium between the grind it out grit and the put the puck in the net type the Rangers could utilize. He had 81 points in 70 games last season for the Prince Albert Raiders and six assists for Team Canada at the 2011 Under-18 World Junior Championships. He has the potential to be a playmaker with a scoring touch.

The Draft kicks off tomorrow night in Minnesota. Coverage beings at 7 p.m. ET on Versus.

Carpe diem — the Latin phrase meaning seize the day — was the answer the New York Rangers so desperately needed to advance in the playoffs. Their series with the number one seed Washington Capitals was also a series of moments and mistakes. Seize the moment, take the series. The Caps did just that as they went on to win 3-1 this afternoon in Game Five at the Verizon Center.

Brian Boyle and linemates Brandon Prust and Sean Avery got the Rangers off to a great start but after their shift was over it seemed to be all Caps from there. Alexander Ovechkin faked a shot and dished the puck to defenseman Mike Green who got the Capitals on board at 5:59 of the first period on the powerplay. Green converted after Rangers’ defenseman Bryan McCabe took an unnecessary tripping penalty.

Ovechkin later added salt to the wound with a highlight reel goal in the second period. He weaved around Marc Staal and got Henrik Lundqvist to drop low as he lifted the puck high into the net. Alex Semin capped it off at 16:23 of the third period to make it 3-0. The Rangers pulled Lundqvist for the hail-Mary empty net and Wojtek Wolski managed to notch one with seconds left in the game. Too little, too late.

Rangers’ goaltender Henrik Lundqvist captured it best in his televised postgame interview to reporters: “When you have that chance and opportunity, you need to grab it. We didn’t do that.”

He’s likely talking Game One and Game Four to be exact. The loss hurts because the Rangers lost by a few hairs and two losses in overtime.

They may not have had the talent to compete with D.C. gunners Ovechkin, Semin and Nicklas Backstrom but they had the willpower and potential to do damage. They had flashes of Cinderella story brilliance this season, a comeback never say die attitude. Each game of this series was tight, and hard fought. It could have went either way, but ultimately the better team won. Not better on paper but better at coming through at just the right moment.

Not in the stars: My Rangers in 6 prediction came with some qualifiers: “They’ll prevail only if: Lundqvist maintains his composure; Gaborik gets his act together; everyone works hard like blue collar Brandon Prust; the power play doesn’t consistently choke.” The powerplay went 1-for-20 in the series and Marian Gaborik remained elusive appearing long enough for one goal and an assist. The crew worked hard though, especially Dan Girardi who continued to use his body to deflect pucks away from Lundqvist. He reportedly dislocated his finger after taking a swing at Brooks Laich and may have injured his ankle after blocking a hard shot. That didn’t keep him off the bench for long though as he returned to play the rest of the game. Henrik Lundqvist became the heart and soul for the Rangers this series and gave them every opportunity to win. They just couldn’t seize the moment.

The Cally effect: There is no doubting that losing Ryan Callahan before the playoffs was not going to bode well for the Rangers. Callahan’s mere presence surely would have made a difference but he alone could not have solved the Rangers’ offensive issues.

Game Four was an emotional roller coaster. Words can’t possibly do it justice nor adequately explain. It was like watching a lively balloon spring to life, soaring high to the ceiling that slowly but surely sank lower and lower as it deflated.

The Rangers hit their home ice to a rocking Garden on the heels of Capitals’ coach Bruce Boudreau’s (overblown) jabs at MSG. The thunderous cheers were felt throughout the television broadcast, until the third period that is.

Ranger fans even got creative and added a “Can You Hear Us?” chant to go along with the endless “Boudreau” knocks. The Rangers responded in the second period. Artem Anisimov knocked in a “garbage goal” from behind the Capitals’ goaltender to make it 1-0. Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik scored seven seconds apart. Three to nothing equals jubiliation. Just 20 minutes separated the Rangers and the Garden faithful from a 2-2 series tie.

Where did it all go wrong:

• The power play was still a complete mess. The Rangers went 0-7. Once again, the lack of movement and the failure to get quality shots on net cost them. Defensemen Bryan McCabe looked uncomfortable with the puck and is quickly becoming more of a detriment rather than an asset at the point. It may be time to give the more physical Steve Eminger a shot in the lineup.
• A couple of “tickey-tackey” calls helped swing the momentum back to the Capitals who rallied for three goals in the third period to take the game to overtime. Alex Semin took advantage of a careless pass by Ryan McDonagh to get the Caps on the board. His first shot on Lundqvist was blocked but he came in to the net strong and chipped it in. Although Lundqvist thought he had it secured and pulled it from the goal line on the intial shot, the referee never blew the whistle to end play leaving plenty of time for Semin to drive it home. Marcus Johanssen notched the other two goals to make it 3-3. One came just as a power play for the Caps had ended after a questionable slashing call against Sean Avery. Just before the Rangers were called for the penalty, Ruslan Fedotenko appeared to be tripped up at the other end, but no call was made.
• They let the Capitals take back control. Instead of revving up to steal back a win in the third period, they waited passively for overtime. The first OT was a stressful chess match and the second was no better for blood pressures and fast beating hearts.
• An unfortunate miscommunication and mistake by Marian Gaborik and I would add Bryan McCabe tripped up Lundqvist from freezing the puck in double overtime. Jason Chimera fired a shot that McCabe awkwardly blocked. As it bounced toward Lundqvist, he was going in for the no-brainer to cover it. Gaborik tried to “help”, perhaps thinking he could chip it away, but instead it was stuffed into the net crowning Chimera the hero in the Capitals 4-3 victory. The Caps take a 3-1 series lead back to D.C.
• Missed opportunities. Plain and simple. A 3-0 nothing lead has to be held for 20 minutes, especially when Lundqvist is standing on his head making saves and playing through an obvious sorespot in his leg.

The heroes:

• The King took the loss hard. Rightly so after he stopped 49 shots. Lundqvist made what could have been a series changing save on Alex Ovechkin who flew down the ice alone with 8:58 left in the first overtime.
• Dan Girardi had Derek Stepan’s back and took some serious hits for the team. At 14:44 in the second OT, Stepan accidentally cleared the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty. Girardi blocked three shots in such rapid succession he looked like Superman deflecting bullets. He blocked nine shots in total and led the team logging 39:45 minutes of ice time.

This one is going to sting for awhile — not because of the missed opportunities, the Gabby gaffe, or the Capital punishment “walk” to the Blueshirt fans “talk”. But because they had it and let it slip away like a balloon.

Here are some lessons to takeaway from the Rangers 3-2 victory over the Capitals at the Garden:

• New York finally realized they need to score in regulation in order to get by in a playoff series. Bravo Erik Christensen,Vinny Prospal and Brandon Dubinsky.
• Christensen has eagle eyes. His crazy angle shot from the side of the net slipped in the crack just over Michael Neuvirth’s shoulder and bounced right back out. It gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the second period and was their only power play goal.
• Marian Gaborik is irrelevant. Time to move on to a new story. He’s not scoring. Gaborik had three shots on goal. Boyle the “grinder” had nine. Secondary options need to step back up like they did during the regular season and find the back of the net, not the boards, glass and players around it.
• The creepy mustache is the new playoff beard. Brian Boyle and Dubinsky are rockin’ the 70′s black stache.
• The Rangers’ players and coaching staff need to reboot their power play game plan. Big time. It’s nauseating and almost physically painful to watch. The Blueshirts were 1-for-7 on the PP. They had two 5-on-3 chances which resulted in diddly squat. The staggering lack of movement and pass, pass, pass mentality is not going to cut it.
• Henrik Lundqvist really wants to win. He needs help.
• Sean Avery is most effective when he skates hard and skips the horseplay. But he is oh so clever. Check out how he gave the Rangers an extra few seconds to catch their breath after an icing. Nice stick work .
• NBC doesn’t know how to keep time or put together a replay. In the dieing seconds of the second period it appeared as though Ruslan Fedotenko could have given the Rangers a 2-1 lead. NBC kept showing an awkward angle with the time clock displayed showing .1 seconds remaining on the clock. The much clearer overhead view was shown without the time clock. The referees called the “War Room” in Toronto for the official no-goal ruling. It was not until late in the third period that NBC showed an overhead replay with the timestamp included. It seems their clocks are a tad off like their commentating. The late view showed the puck passing the goal line with no time left on the clock. The NHL assured everyone the time was at zero. I’m glad I got to watch The Voice commercial another 10 times.
• NBC thinks we have short term memory. An enlarged red square reminding us how Washington leads the series 2-0 sat next to the score at the top of the screen for the whole game.
• Tickey-tackey is my new favorite adjective to describe the officiating. Thanks Caps’ coach Bruce Boudreau.
• Ranger fans are a bi-polar lot. Whether we’re frustrated, elated, impatient, excited, hopeful, dejected — we bleed blue and we always believe.

Brandon Dubinsky bounced in the game winning goal to make the series 2-1.

All they had to do was clear the zone. Less than two minutes left in overtime stuck in a stressful 1-1 tie, they still had a chance to win. With a captain and an all star defenseman at the helm, that shouldn’t be hard right? But Chris Drury and Marc Staal weren’t able to and in overtime of the first playoff game of round one in enemy territory, one mistake, one bad giveaway is all it takes to drop a game.

Staal’s half hearted attempt to lift the puck out of the zone was thwarted by Jason Arnott who immediately dished the puck to Alex Semin securing the Capitals 2-1 overtime win.

It was worse than a punch to the gut; and worse than a blowout even. The Rangers had every chance to steal a game in Washington. The same issues nagged them though:no conversion on the powerplay and a lethargic offense.

After defenseman Matt Gilroy–the most unlikely of heros scoring in his first playoff game– got the Rangers on the board first in the third period, it almost felt like they had the win in the bag. Wojtek Wolski was looking good and Artem Anisimov was chipping in on defense and skating well. Henrik Lundqvist looked unstoppable and made save after save.

But lazy, hard and inopportune cross ice passes kept the Rangers 1-0 third period lead on edge. Marian Gaborik couldn’t finish. The game was a tight defensive match for 60 minutes with most shots getting blocked, especially Alexander Ovechkin’s. But OV kept throwing his weight around and chipped the puck through Lundqvist at 13:44. It appeared Lundqvist had possession of the puck but the referees hadn’t yet blown the whistle so the goal stood making it 1-1 and on to a very tense overtime the game went.

The Rangers looked more like they were hanging on, rather than pouring it on. Lundqvist gave them every opportunity to win it. Someone needs to find the back of the net and quick. This is going to be a long series.

Take a seat: Mats Zuccarello isn’t as effective in regulation as he is in the shootout. But there are no shootouts in the playoffs. Only big hits, bloody blocked shots and quick goals. It’s time for Sean Avery to get his game face on while the rookie sits awhile. Zuccarello took a bad penalty in the first period and had a hand in the too many men on the ice call earlier.

BS: The Rangers had 28 blocked shots, with Dan Girardi leading the way with 5. The more defensive minded Caps had 32, with Karl Alzner taking 8 hits for the team.

Move on: The Rangers have another chance to shake the Caps psyche on Friday night for Game 2.

The Rangers avoided the worst possible scenario by winning their last game of the season and having Carolina help them out by losing theirs.  So, they’re back in the playoffs after a one year hiatus, and will face the Eastern Conference leading Washington Capitals.  Seems like a foregone conclusion as to who will win this series, right?  I don’t think so…

Breaking down this matchup is very difficult, as the two teams are completely different in their construction.  We’ll take it on point-by-point.

Offence:  A year ago, Washington would have been a gimmie pick here, as they were simply an offensive juggernaut.  With Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and a supporting cast that includes the likes of Mike Knuble, Brooks Laich, Eric Fehr and other potentially prolific scorers up front would make anyone cringe if they were told they had to play goal against the Caps.  However, this year’s edition of the Caps focused more on defensive play, meaning that their offensive totals faded somewhat.  In fact, the Rangers finished with more goals scored over the 82-game qualification process we call the “regular season”.  I still think they have an explosive offence, and the addition of Jason Arnott will help them both on the powerplay and at full strength.  I personally believe losing Tomas Fleischmann was a bad idea, but considering he is lost for the season due to a prolonged ailment, it should be irrelevant.

The Rangers’ offence isn’t quite as star-studded.  With the highest point-totaller being Brandon Dubinsky (54), it seems almost like a pop-gun offence.  But in some cases, scoring by committee can actually help a team.  Sure, the Rags need Marian Gaborik to get in gear after a mediocre regular season, but they need others to step up as well.  In my opinion, Wojtek Wolski, Dubi, Brian Boyle, Artem Anisimov, Brandon Prust and pretty much everyone down the line need to up their games to give the offensive cushion the Rangers will need.  There simply isn’t any way to objectively compare these two forward corps and come out with anything but an advantage for Washington.

Advantage:  Capitals

Defence:  Last year, the Capitals found out the hard way that defence is their weak area.  This year, they focused on it more and managed to become a fairly sound two-way team.  While Mike Green has missed the last 20 games of the regular season, he is expected to play in game one of the series, and should provide a nice boost.  Deadline acquisition Dennis Wideman, however, is out indefinitely after sustaining a hematoma.  Green’s return, coupled with Wideman’s absence, means that breakout rookie Jon Carlson will be leaned on heavily, and the youngster should have no trouble keeping pace with the playoff furor.  He emerged as a very solid two-way player, and will contribute at both ends of the rink.  Guys like John Erskine and Karl Alzner will provide an anchor at the back end as well.  Overall, this is an improved defensive team, largely due to coach Boudreau’s shift in priorities.

For the Rangers, the youth will likely show a bit, but in the bigger picture, that could also mean enthusiasm.  Marc Staal is by far the best rearguard for the Blueshirts, and he’ll be a pivotal factor.  I venture to say he may be the best overall defenceman in the series.  Youngsters like Ryan McDonagh will have to learn as they go along, and they’ll be tasked with repelling one of the most formidable offensive units in the game.  While I don’t think the learning aspect will provide a huge challenge, I believe it may be learning by making mistakes.  At least they don’t have the R&R twins anymore to make absolutely sure of turnovers…  Dan Girardi has shown himself as being a really viable shut-down guy, and he’ll likely line up against the Great 8 for most of the series.  It’s a tall order, but considering the Rangers outscored the Caps by a 15-1 margin over the last 3 games between them, something seems to be working.  Finally, Bryan McCabe has to show up and provide a veteran presence.  I can’t overstate how ridiculously disappointed I was in his performance after the trade from Florida.  He was utterly useless.  Technically, he was supposed to boost the point position on the powerplay, but with only 2 goals and 4 assists through 19 games with New York, I think I could probably do better!  He needs to wake himself up and start producing!!!

Advantage:  Even

Goaltending:  Washington comes into the series with a 3-headed monster, but can you win with that?  Between tonight’s starter, Michal Neuvirth, a recently recovered Semyon Varlamov and newly discovered gem Brayden Holtby, the Caps have some decisions to make.  They seem inclined to run with Varly and Neuvirth, and to be honest, that’s a little bit of a surprise.  Of the three, Holtby impressed me most this season, and adds the puck-handling and passing element to the position that I believe really helps a transition game.  I wouldn’t be surprised if we see two or more starters as the series progresses.

The Rangers have no questions (or options) in goal.  It’s going to be “King” Henrik Lundqvist, who led all NHL goalies with 11 shutouts this year.  Hank is a reliable element in the Rangers’ gameplan, and provided he isn’t unprotected against net-crashing, could make the difference in the series.  I would go as far as to say he could be the most influential player in this series.  Washington gets frustrated easily when the puck isn’t going in, and Hank is the man who could precipitate such frustration just by being himself.  Injury is a real concern, as Chad Johnson isn’t the kind of backup you want to be playing in the post-season.

Advantage:  Rangers

Overall, I think this will be a much closer series than most people are predicting.  I think the Caps’ lack of a proven goalie will again haunt them, while Hank’s stability could be a series-changer.  I hesitate to be overly confident, but as a Rangers’ fan, I will pick them to win the series in 7 games.  It won’t be as high scoring as people think…

Until next time,

Na Zdravi,

DR

The Rangers and Capitals are about to party like it’s 2009. The last time the Rangers made it to the postseason was 2009. They were the seventh place underdogs facing the second place powerhouse Caps.The Blueshirts rocked the red jumping to a 3-1 series lead after defeating the Caps in their own home. But the Rangers, known for their inconsistency lost control and the series.

Both these teams share a common desire: redemption. The Capitals will be looking to prove they can carry over their regular season successes through the postseason and make a serious run for the Cup. Last year they were ousted in the first round by the eighth place Montreal Canadiens.

The Rangers will be looking to get it right this time against their old foe. They also want to show they’re right where they belong. Last season they missed the playoffs by a point and watched the Philadelphia Flyers work their way into the Stanley Cup final.

Season Series: The Rangers went 3-1 against the Capitals this season. They won the last three games by a margin of 15 to 1.

Yo Gabby Gabby: Marian Gaborik didn’t score once in the final eight games of the regular season and spent most of the third period on the bench for the remaining games of the season. It’s make or break time for the struggling winger. Is he just having a tough year ready to bounce back or is he just another failed Glen Sather experiment that could be sent packing this summer? The power play has been atrocious going 1 for 27 over an eight game span. The sniper needs to do more sniping and less thinking.

Step it Up: Wojtek Wolski and Erik Christensen can’t hide in the shadows anymore. There’s not enough time in a series to selectively appear. Four games and you’re out. The crafty hand forwards need to help jumpstart the offense.

Watch Out For: Alexander Ovechkin’s been quiet this season for his standards, perhaps pacing himself for the playoffs. He can weave around defenders better than a spider weaves a web. Despite finishing the season with his lowest scoring totals since he entered the N.H.L. in 2005-6, he’s a major threat that Rangers’ blueliner Marc Staal will be called upon to shutdown and throw off.

Bright Spot: Henrik Lundqvist is the reason the Rangers squeaked their way back into a playoff spot when their offense went out for lunch. The Caps have some shaky goaltending to contend with. Varlamov and Neuvirth aren’t always sure things.

X Factor: Captain Chris Drury needs to make his presence known outside of the locker room and on the ice, just as he did in his return back after a long injury hiatus on Saturday. His offensive contributions have dipped each season, but his timely knack for chipping a puck into the net at the right time could get the Rangers out of a jam. He needs to win faceoffs, an area New York has struggled with this season. Without their future captain Callahan, Drury needs to steer the ship back on course.

Dubi dubi do: Can Dubinsky keep the points coming without his partner in crime Ryan Callahan? He led the team this season with 54 points and 24 goals.

Remember the time: Coach John Tortorella lost his cool after a Washington fan threw beer at him back in 2009 when the Rangers let the series slip right out of their finger tips. Caps goaltender Semyon Varlamov got hot at the right moment.

Prediction: Maybe it has an added element of wishful thinking, but the Rangers can win the series 6. They’ve unraveled Washington’s defense before and they have the potential to do it again, even without Callahan. They’ll prevail only if: Lundqvist maintains his composure; Gaborik gets his act together; everyone works hard like blue collar Brandon Prust; the power play doesn’t consistently choke.