Rangers and Caps set for another classic Game 7 matchup at the Garden
Bobby Bevilacqua

Ryan McDonagh and Alex Ovechkin, the two captains, will match up one last time in a deciding Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
When it looked like the Rangers were on the brink of elimination in Game 5, Chris Kreider scored with 1:41 left in the third period to send it into overtime, with Ryan McDonagh the hero in the end. They then got it done at the Verizon Center, with two goals from Chris Kreider, and one each by Rick Nash and Dan Boyle, backed up by 42 saves from Henrik Lundqvist.
All of these events sets the scene for a classic Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” a place where the Rangers have won all six Game 7s in their franchise history.
Over the last three seasons, the Rangers have won their last five Game 7s, and could set an NHL record with a win tonight. In their last 16 elimination games, the Rangers are 13-3, largely due to the play of Henrik Lundqvist, who is always cool, calm and collected even when placed in the most unnerving situations.
Henrik Lundqvist will always be the most important player for the Rangers on any given night, and he’s been a huge reason for the Rangers’ playoff success for many years now. In the last 16 elimination games, all started by Lundqvist, he is 13-3 with a 1.42 GAA, a .955 save percentage, and two shutouts. In his last five Game 7s, Lundqvist has a .80 GAA, stopping 144-148 shots he’s faced for a .973 save percentage. The Rangers will need that Lundqvist to show up tonight.

Henrik Lundqvist has been the Rangers’ backbone for many years, and the team will need him to carry his past success in elimination games into the Garden tonight. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
After the Game 6 loss, Ovechkin said that the Capitals would “come back and win the series.” That’s the right thing to say as captain, to promote an aura of positivity in the locker room, but it puts a lot of pressure on the team to back up his words. The team seemed a bit rattled after the Game 6 loss, saying they’ll win, saying Holtby is the better goalie and other things liked that. The Rangers let them say what they wanted, didn’t retaliate, and will look to let their game do the talking for them.
Speaking of Ovechkin, after scoring a goal in Game 1, Ovechkin skated around Lundqvist and yelled , “All series baby. All series. All series.” But after scoring two goals and an assist in the first two games, Ovechkin has been held pointless since, and has not been nearly as effective as he was early in the series. But he’s still a player that’s capable of taking over any game. He’ll be motivated to try and win, and the Rangers will need to keep a very close eye on him.
In Game 6, Rick Nash was finally able to break through with his first meaningful goal of the playoffs, giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead less than a minute into the final period. He’s had his chances in the series, but was denied by Holtby on several occasions. To combat Ovechkin’s flurry of shots on goal, Nash will have to do exactlythat. Pour shots on net, go for deflections, dirty goals, rebounds, and get to the front of the net. He’s pressured Holtby all series, all while playing a phenomenal two way game, and he will need to deliver again tonight.

Rick Nash delivered a huge goal on Sunday night at the Verizon Center to help the Rangers stave off elimination. Can he do it again tonight? Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The last 13 playoff games for the Rangers, including all 11 during these playoffs, have been decided by one goal. So you can bet that tonight’s game will be an exciting, heart pumping, tight-checking game between two good teams.
The Rangers and the Capitals will faceoff at Madison Square Garden at 7:30 PM. The Game will be broadcasted on NBCSN.
EXPECTED LINEUP (Not Confirmed)
Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Martin St. Louis
Chris Kreider-Derek Stepan-Jesper Fast
Carl Hagelin-Dominic Moore-Kevin Hayes
Tanner Glass-James Sheppard-JT Miller
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Dan Boyle
Keith Yandle-Kevin Klein
Henrik Lundqivst
Posted on May 13, 2015, in Game Previews and tagged Alain Vigneault, Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby, Cam Talbot, Carl Hagelin, Chris Kreider, Dan Boyle, Dan Girardi, Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Dominic Moore, Hartford Wolf Pack, Henrik Lundqvist, James Sheppard, Jesper Fast, JT Miller, Keith Yandle, Kevin Hayes, Kevin Klein, King Henrik, Madison Square Garden, Marc Staal, Martin St. Louis, Mats Zuccarello, Matt Hunwick, MSG, MSL, New York Rangers, NHL, NHL 2014-2015 Season, NHL Playoffs, Nicklas Backstrom, NY Rangers, NYR, Rangers, Rangers Nation, Rangerstown, Rick Nash, Ryan Bourque, Ryan McDonagh, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tanner Glass, The Ranger Zone, Washington Capitals. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
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