Home not necessarily sweet for Rangers

WASHINGTON -- Home-ice advantage? For much of this season, Madison Square Garden has been a disadvantage.

Until early March, when the Rangers started a 6-1-1 stretch at home, including a 5-2 victory over the Devils in the regular-season finale, playing at the Garden did not provide a distinct edge.

Even with the finishing kick, the Blueshirts were 20-17-4 at home. Every other team in the Stanley Cup playoffs had more wins in their friendly confines -- and so did five teams who missed the postseason: New Jersey, Carolina, Dallas, Calgary and St. Louis.

But the playoffs are another season, and the restless crowds of winter turn to roaring supporters in the spring, so the Garden should be at its raucous best this afternoon when the Rangers return for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference playoff series against the Capitals.

The Rangers are down 2-0 after a 2-0 loss Friday night. Game 4 is at the Garden on Wednesday night.

For Rangers fans, however, the track record at home isn't all that promising. Since 2006, the Rangers are 7-7 at home in the playoffs. They have a 2-4 record in Game 3s of the six series, including a 4-0 loss to the Capitals in 2009.

The Capitals had the fourth-best road record in the East at 23-15-3 and were 1-1 at the Garden during the regular season. The last time the two teams met at the Garden, on Dec. 12, the Rangers pounded them, 7-0. The Capitals won, 5-3, on Nov. 9.

The lineup for Game 3 likely will remain pretty stable, with the Rangers carrying one spare wing and a seventh defenseman.

In hopes of providing some grit and in-your-face play against Capitals such as Alexander Semin, Mike Green and goaltender Michal Neuvirth, coach John Tortorella decided to dress agitator/irritant Sean Avery for Game 2 after he was scratched for the season finale against the Devils and Game 1.

"I'm ready to go," said Avery, who provided a spark against the Capitals.

Avery, who has struggled this season, scoring only three goals, said it doesn't matter who the opponent is. "I don't worry about anything, I just play my game,'' he said.

"When Sean is consistent with his play, he can add some forechecking to us," Tortorella said. "Hopefully, he'll give us an opportunity to forecheck, stay disciplined and add some energy to our lineup."

For the Rangers to advance, however, they will need more world-class play from Henrik Lundqvist (36-27-5, 2.28 GAA and .923 save percentage).

Without Ryan Callahan (broken ankle), and with Marian Gaborik (42 goals last season) mired in a seasonlong goal slump, in part because of a shoulder injury and concussion, the Rangers need production from other players who scored at least 20 goals: Brandon Dubinsky (24), rookie Derek Stepan (21) and Brian Boyle (21).

The Rangers have seven players with only two or three games of playoff experience, but veteran Vinny Prospal (23 points in the last 30 games) adds punch and infectious enthusiasm.