For the second time in two years, the Rangers will face the Capitals in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Rangers, with home ice advantage in the second round, survived in seven games last season. The Caps will have that edge this time.
Last season, every game but the first was decided by a goal. The goaltender battle was Lundqvist vs. Holtby
Game 1: NY 3, Caps 1
Game 2: Caps 3, NY 2
Game 3: NY 2, Caps 1 (Triple OT)
Game 4: Caps 3, NY 2
Game 5: NY 3, Caps 2 (OT)
Game 6: Caps 2, NY 1
Game 7: NY 2, Caps 1
This season, the teams played three times:
The Rangers won 2-1 on Feb. 17 at MSG, with Rick Nash and Derek Stepan scoring. The Blueshirts also won in DC 4-1 on March 10, with Biron in goal as Stepan, Boyle, Callahan and Richards scored. Washington won at the Garden, 3-2 in a shootout, on March 24. Arron Asham and Stepan scored.
In the first round last season, the Rangers beat Ottawa in seven. The Caps knocked off Boston.
More on all this tomorrow and in a Newsday special section coming up...
