Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eastern Conference Second Round Game 1 – April 30, 2015

It wasn’t easy getting through the first round of the playoffs. The New York Rangers won four games to one, all were decided by just one goal (two in overtime), against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Washington Capitals had a physically gruelling seven-game series against the New York Islanders. With that said, this is still one spectacular matchup over at the East.

Read on four our take on Game 1 as well as the series. The Stanley Cup Playoffs dominating your sports enjoyment? Take in our complete preview for the Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks.
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Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers Game 1 Preview

Series Scores and Schedule

Game 1 – April 30, 7:30 PM ET – Washington Capitals (+150) at New York Rangers (-170); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines

Game 2 – May 2, 12:30 PM ET – Washington Capitals at New York Rangers

Game 3 – May 4, 7:30 PM ET – New York Rangers at Washington Capitals

Game 4 – May 6, 7:30 PM ET – New York Rangers at Washington Capitals

Game 5* – May 8, 7:00 PM ET – Washington Capitals at New York Rangers

Game 6* – May 10, TBD – New York Rangers at Washington Capitals

Game 7* – May 12, TBD – Washington Capitals at New York Rangers

*If necessary

Betting on the Washington Capitals

Joel Ward broke the scoreless deadlock, tipping in Brooks Orpik’s shot in the second period. It was his first goal of the playoffs. Then, Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the winner in the dying minutes after the Isles’ equaled early in the third period. Washington’s 2-1 win over the Islanders on Monday ended a gritty seven-game series and sent the Capitals to a second-round matchup against President’s Trophy winners, the New York Rangers.

[sc:NHL240 ]This will be the fifth time the Capitals face New York in the playoffs since 2009. They’ve split all four series 2-2 thus far. The Capitals seem to have the edge in experience and team chemistry with Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom, Brooks Laich and Eric Fehr having played the four series against the Rangers.

Ovechkin, who finished with a league-high 53 goals in the regular season, has 19 points (10 goals and nine assists) in 26 career playoff games against the Rangers. He’s scored just two goals and assisted in three others in the Caps’ seven-game series against the Isles. He has five goals in the four-game regular season series against the Rangers, scoring in each contest.

The Caps’ offense will be tested by New York’s excellent defense and goaltending. But they have their own incredible goalie in Braden Holtby, who is 6-8 with a 2.06 GAA and a .925 save percentage in his playoff career against the Rangers. Holtby hasn’t inspired much confidence against the Rangers, though, going 1-3 with a 3.06 GAA and .897 save percentage in the regular season.

Washington has lost eight of its last 11 trips to Madison Square Garden.

Think the Capitals can pull off the upset? Create a betting account now and back your team.

Betting on the New York Rangers

The New York Rangers capped off their first round series with a 2-1 overtime win against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 on April 24. Closing out the series early ensured the Rangers would get some much needed rest ahead of their physically imposing opponents, the Capitals.

But the Rangers have speed on their side. That speed will show with Martin St. Louis in the first line with Mats Zuccarello out due to injury. St. Louis only had a point in New York’s five-game series against the Penguins, an assist on Kevin Hayes’ overtime winning-goal in Game 4.

But St. Louis is due to get on the board against Washington. He has 84 points in 77 career regular season games against Washington and has 14 points (seven goals and seven assists) in 10 career playoff meetings. Having St. Louis outmaneuvering the opposing defense should also help open things up for line mates Rick Nash and Derick Brassard.

Nash led the Rangers with 42 goals in the regular season. But he’s been left with just one tally and three assists in the playoffs thus far. Surprisingly, it’s Brassard who leads the Rangers with three goals in the playoffs.

Despite Nash struggling to find the back of the net, the Rangers have drawn some much needed production from their deep roster. Carl Hagelin and Derek Stepan have two goals each, while Chris Kreider and Hayes each have one. The Rangers also have four others (not counting Zuccarello) with two or more assists.

But what could save the Rangers in this game and series is excellent goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist. He won both his regular season starts against the Capitals with a 2.00 GAA and owns a .929 save percentage. Down 3-2 in their 2013 first round series, he ended Washington’s season with back-to-back shutouts in Games 6 and 7.

Lundqvist is 4-1 with a 1.53 GAA and .939 save percentage in the playoffs thus far.

Writer’s Prediction

The Rangers (-170) shut out Ovechkin in a 3-1 Game 1 victory. New York goes on to win the series 4-2.
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