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New York had won three straight 2-1 decisions - two in
overtime - to close out Pittsburgh in the opening round but was
victimized by Joel Ward's goal with 1.3 seconds left in
regulation to drop the series opener by the same score. "It's
going to be tough for the next couple hours, then you start
focusing on the next game," Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist
said. "It's going to come fast, an early one on Saturday. That's
what we are looking for right now, to come back and have a
better game and better result." Captain Alex Ovechkin scored the
first goal before setting up Ward's game-winner for Washington,
which expects a huge effort from the Rangers in Game 2. "You
know their desperation level and their detail level and their
commitment level will be at the optimum tomorrow," Capitals
coach Barry Trotz said.
TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, NBC, RSN, TVA
ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Ovechkin scored a league-best 53 goals
during the regular season and was immense in the series opener,
beating Lundqvist with a laser and having the presence of mind
to find Ward for the deciding tally just before time expired.
“He’s very similar to (former Rangers captain) Mark Messier,”
Trotz said. “Those rare talents that can play a very heavy game,
intimidate you with his speed, intimidate you with his
physicality and skill." Braden Holtby, who gave up 12 goals in
going 1-3-0 against the Rangers in the regular season, turned
aside 31 shots and has permitted six tallies in his last five
starts.
ABOUT THE RANGERS: Coach Alain Vigneault was irked by the hit
Washington's Nicklas Backstrom delivered on defenseman Dan Boyle
in the waning seconds that led to the winning goal, but he was
more upset by his team's inability to match the play of Ovechkin
and Co. "Their top line, I mean, I could say they had their way
with us," Vigneault said. "They probably had more than
two-thirds of their scoring chances. We need to do a better job
against that line, without a doubt." Boyle said the hit by
Backstrom left him "dazed and confused," but he was on the ice
at Friday's practice and is expected to play Saturday.
OVERTIME
1. The Rangers have played eight straight one-goal games in the
postseason, the longest active run in the league.
2. Washington snuffed out both of New York's power-play chances
to improve to 16-for-16 on the penalty kill in the playoffs.
3. The Rangers fell into a 2-0 series hole against the Capitals
in 2013 before rallying to win in seven games.
PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Capitals 2
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