The Capitals and Rangers matchup at Madison Square Garden for Game 1.
The Capitals and Rangers matchup at Madison Square Garden for Game 1.
After capturing the Metropolitan Division and Presidents' Trophy, the New York Rangers (55-23-4) play the Washington Capitals (40-31-11) in their first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Puck drop from Madison Square Garden is set for 3:00 p.m.
The Capitals and Rangers split their four-game season series, with the Rangers winning the last matchup on Jan. 14. Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere scored first period goals to give New York a 2-0 lead. T.J. Oshie added a red light in the second, but Washington was unable to complete the comeback, with Igor Shesterkin making 24 saves in a 2-1 win.
Sunday marks the beginning of the 10th postseason matchup between the two franchises. The Rangers have a 5-4 lead in postseason matchups all time, taking a seven-game matchup in the Second Round in 2015.
Where They've Been:
The Capitals got into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth in game 82 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Alex Ovechkin broke the ice for Washington in the first, but Erik Johnson tied the game in the second. However, with Philadelphia needing a regulation win to stay in the playoff chase, John Tortorella pulled his goalie in a decision that ultimately backfired. Oshie buried the puck in the empty cage to send Washington into the postseason on a 2-1 win.
Players to Watch:
Shesterkin will be the Rangers' Game 1 starter in net (36-17-2, 2.58 GAA, .913 SV%). He last started the Rangers' clincher on Monday, earning a 25-save shutout in a 4-0 win over the Ottawa Senators. Against Washington, he is 8-4-0 lifetime with a 2.59 GAA and .916 SV%.
Nobody on the Rangers enters the Stanley Cup Playoffs hotter than Panarin. The forward had a 13-game point streak to end the season, totaling 11 goals and 15 assists in that span.
Mika Zibanejad also has six-game point streak entering the postseason, totaling two red lights and six helpers in that span. He also leads active Rangers in goals and points against Washington with 18 and 34, respectively; Panarin leads the team with 21 helpers.
Charlie Lindgren will be Washington's starting goalie after a 48-start regular season (25-16-7, 2.67 GAA, .911 SV%). He started Washington's final six games of the year, most recently punching the Capitals' ticket to the playoffs with 27 saves against Philadelphia. Against the Rangers, he is 2-1-0 with a 1.35 GAA and .955 SV%, making 29 saves in a loss his last time out.
Washington's Nic Dowd ended the season on a three-game point streak, recording goals against Philadelphia and Boston down the stretch in addition to an assist on Oshie's goal to seal their win against Philadelphia.
Despite a down year for his standards, Alex Ovechkin led the Capitals in goals with 31. Defenseman John Carlson led the team in assists with 42 while Dylan Strome led in points with 67.
Ovechkin leads the Capitals in lifetime goals and points against New York with 42 and 67, respectively. Carlson leads the active Washington roster in assists with 32 against the Rangers.
New York Rangers Projected Lines:
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jack Roslovic
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle -- Alex Wennberg -- Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey -- Barclay Goodrow -- Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Braden Schneider
Erik Gustafsson -- Jacob Trouba
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Washington Capitals Projected Lines:
Alex Ovechkin -- Connor McMichael -- T.J. Oshie
Aliaksei Protas -- Dylan Strome -- Tom Wilson
Max Pacioretty -- Hendrix Lapierre -- Sonny Milano
Beck Malenstyn -- Nic Dowd -- Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary -- John Carlson
Alex Alexeyev -- Dylan McIlrath
Trevor van Riemsdyk -- Vincent Iorio
Charlie Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper
*Combinations per The Hockey News' Sammi Silber
How to Watch:
Sunday's game will air locally on MSG; the game will also air on ESPN as part of a national quadruple header. On the radio, the game can be found on 98.7 FM ESPN.