Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eastern Conference Second Round Game 7 – May 13, 2015
The New York Rangers are taking this series back to Madison Square Garden after edging Game 6 with a 4-3 victory. It didn’t come with a scare as the Rangers had to hold off a furious third period rally from Washington. Have the Rangers finally found the openings they need to win the series? Read on for a complete preview of this all-important Game 7.
Can the Montreal Canadiens also force Game 7? Check out the complete preview for Game 6 of the Canadiens vs. Lightning.
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Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers Game 7 Preview
Series Scores and Schedule
Game 1 – Washington Capitals 2 at New York Rangers 1
Game 2 – Washington Capitals 2 at New York Rangers 3
Game 3 – New York Rangers 0 at Washington Capitals 1
Game 4 – New York Rangers 1 at Washington Capitals 2
Game 5 –Washington Capitals 1 at New York Rangers 2 (OT)
Game 6 – New York Rangers 4 at Washington Capitals 3
Game 7 – May 13, 7:30 PM ET – Washington Capitals at New York Rangers – view all NHL lines
Betting on the Washington Capitals
After looking like an impenetrable wall for the first five games of the series, Washington netminder Braden Holtby finally cracked under pressure. Holtby allowed four goals on 28 shots in Game 6’s 4-3 loss against the Rangers. It was his first game of the series with a save percentage of less than .900 and the first game in which he’s allowed more than three goals throughout the playoffs.
[sc:NHL240 ]But Washington’s offense kept the Caps in the game. Jason Chimera opened the scoring for the Caps in the first minute of the second period. Trailing 4-1 in the third period, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Joel Ward scored within three minutes of each other to bring the deficit back to one.
What could give the Caps trouble is superstar forward Alex Ovechkin’s sudden inability to score. After netting one goal in each of the first two games of the series, Ovechkin has now failed to score in the last four games. Despite being Washington’s go-to player (he has a team-high 55 shots on goal, 18 more than the next), Ovechkin isn’t selfish in the playoffs. He has as many goals as he does assists in the postseason with four.
If Ovechkin finds himself heavily covered by New York’s defense, expect him set up his teammates instead of forcing his own shots. He has a handful of competent forwards at his disposal. Kuznetsov is a formidable scorer, leading the Caps with five goals in the playoffs. Nicklas Backstrom, Ward and Chimera are also capable finishers with three goals each.
The Caps have lost seven of their last 10 at Madison Square Garden.
Betting on the New York Rangers
The Rangers may have finally solved Braden Holtby. After being limited to five goals across the first 14 periods of the series, the Rangers have scored six in the past five periods (including overtime in Game 5). New York had not scored more than three goals in its 10 prior playoff games.
Chris Kreider accounts for three of the Rangers’ last six goals. He scored a game-tying goal in Game 5 and had two more goals in a dominant first period in Game 6. Kreider gives the Rangers a speedy winger capable of outskating Washington’s bigger stronger players. Setting him up should prove valuable for the Rangers. New York has now won 11 straight games when Kreider scores.
But it wasn’t all Kreider. Rick Nash scored his first goal of the series, slotting a shot past Holtby’s blind side. Defenseman Dan Boyle then scored the game-winner on a slap shot in the third period. It was Boyle’s second goal in the series. Having plenty of scoring options across the ice should help the Rangers get past some solid goaltending from the Capitals. Aside from Boyle, team captain Ryan McDonagh is one of four Rangers defensemen with three or more points in the playoffs. He scored the overtime winner at home in Game 5.
All the Rangers’ efforts would be for naught if not for Henrik Lundqvist. The former Vezina Trophy winner turned away 42 of 45 shots in the Game 6 victory. The 42 saves were a career-high for Lundqvist in a non-overtime playoff game.
Lundqvist should remain solid between the pipes. He is 13-3 with a 1.42 GAA, a .955 save percentage and two shutouts in his last 16 games facing elimination. The two shutouts came against Washington in 2013.
The Rangers have won their last five Game 7s.
Writer’s Prediction
The Rangers punch their way into the Eastern Conference Finals with a 3-2 win. Create a betting account now and get in on the action of the thrilling playoff hockey.
