Last change could be the right one for Rangers
Alex Ovechkin of the Caps pokes the puck off Brad Richards stick in front of the Caps goal in the 2nd period. (May 7, 2012) Credit: David Pokress
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Although coach John Tortorella shuffled three lines in practice Friday, the No. 1 line stayed intact.
With home ice providing the last line change, Tortorella not only will be able to match defensemen Dan Girardi and Marc Staal against Alex Ovechkin as much as possible but will be able to deploy his top line of Carl Hagelin, Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik against different Capitals defense pairings. Gaborik (3-3-6) and Richards (3-2-5) are the team's leading scorers in the series. Derek Stepan, who will center the second line, has four assists.
"For a player, I don't think it [the last change] matters as much as it does for coaches," Staal said. "You hear your name called and we jump on the ice. When [Ovechkin is] on the ice, we're aware of when he gets out there and where he is."
Stepan will be flanked by Chris Kreider and Ryan Callahan. The third line was Artem Anisimov on the left, Brian Boyle at center and Brandon Prust on the right. Ruslan Fedotenko was dropped down to join John Mitchell and Mike Rupp on the fourth line.
Richards said the team's mood was "pretty much identical" to before Game 7 against the Senators. "It's win or go home,'' he said. "We went through it a couple weeks ago so we know the feeling it's going to be during the day [Saturday]."
Ice chips
Fedotenko has been on the winning side in all five Game 7s in which he has played. Richards and Gaborik are 3-0 and Tortorella is 3-1 . . . The Capitals are 1-5 after a win in the playoffs . . . The Rangers have outshot the Capitals 181-156 . . . Mats Zuccarello (fractured wrist) practiced in a non-contact jersey and said he is improving, but he will be out Saturday night and won't be back for at least a week . . . Capitals forward Jay Beagle, who missed Game 6 with an undisclosed injury, did not practice.
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