It's over; all over. Rangers in Three.
It's over; all over.
Rangers in Three.
Oh, yeah there will be a fourth game tomorrow night at Capital One Arena but that'll be a tuneup for what really matters — the eventual second round match-up with Carolina.
The proof was all there last night in Washington on the ice — 3-1 New York — and on paper as well.
The Maven asks you: what could be a more perfect parlay? The Rangers score when the teams are even, 5-on-5; also on the power play and now with their "Secret Weapon," the shorthanded goal. (It also subdued the Caps in Game Two.)
(Hang around: I'll give you more on "The Secret Weapon" in just a minute.)
Why the Blueshirts won't even concede the physicality aspect of the series. Marauding — and that's exactly what he does — Matt Rempe sent Trevor van Riemskdyk to the infirmary with an un-heavenly board check in the first period.
The Remper got two minutes for "interference" although "bulldozing" would have been the more appropriate call. (According to the Caps Nic Dowd, "It was a dirty hit."
To put the cherry on top of the Rangers luscious cake, Igor Shesterkin added to Washington's inferiority complex by allowing one cheesy goal. He then committed highway robbery for the rest of the night.
"Igor was spectacular," commented Vincent Trocheck who merely scored New York's power play goal and assisted on Barclay Goodrow's short-hander.
By contrast, the Capitals Lifetime Hero, Alex Ovechkin, got a "Nyet" from Igor for the Caps captain's four shots on goal. Trying like the Dickens for his team, Ovie played 24:06 minutes. Nyet agan!
"We played really good," Shesterkin explained, as if we didn't know.
What has made the Rangers even better than just "really good" is the spread of ordinance at their disposal. And if that isn't enough to discourage the Capitals the Visitors have added a "Secret Weapon."
I call it "The Anti-Power Play" and it goes like this. Instead of defending against the foe's man advantage, the New Yorkers go for goals. That puts the power play team on the defensive and, guess what?
While supposedly killing the penalty, Goodrow took a pass from Trocheck and beat the befuddled Charlie Lindgren in the Caps goal.
Face it, there are few more demoralizing moments for a team than having a short-handed goal scored against in a tight playoff game. But the trick here is that — with the Rangers — it's no accident; they just go for it; and even if they don't score they make the other team crazy.
"We could have had even more short-handers last night," allowed coach Peter Laviolette. (He wasn't bragging either; just stating a fact.)
I hate to say this because I originally picked New York in five but there's nothing about the Capitals that suggests anything but a sweep on Sunday.
It's over. Bring on the Canes; that is unless the Islanders tell me something different today!