Caps-Rangers series preview

 1M NYR vs Washington 2WC

First we got the Capitals and the New

York Rangers, now this is the president's trophy team versus the second wild card, last year it didn't work out overly well for the Boston Bruins who won the President's Trophy and lost in seven to the second wild card team in Florida so we'll see if this year is any different.

History of Rivalry between teams in playoffs.

Now for the Rangers and Capitals it is going to be an interesting series as this is going to be the 10th all time match up between the capitals and the Rangers, the Rangers have won five of the previous nine matchups winning in 1986 1994 and their last three matchups in 2012, 2013 and 2015 while the Capitals won in 90, 91, 09 and 11 so they've both been pretty even but we haven't seen the Rangers-Capitals playoff series since 2015 when the Rangers won so it'll be interesting to see those two teams go at it again.

Season Series record.

NYR 2-2-0 9-9-E 

WAS 2-2-0 9-9-E

David Kirouac USA Today Sports

Each teams X Factors: Lafreniere vs Lindgren,

For these two teams these two players are their X-Factors in this series, for the Rangers they have been able to get a really productive season out of Lafreniere and if he can continue to produce like he did this past year I think the Rangers will have yet another solid offensive weapon, while I think the only way the Capitals stand any chance of ousting the Rangers would be to have a stellar performance from Lindgren, as he has been great this year for the Capitals and is the main reason they are a playoff team, so he will be the biggest X Factor for the Caps.

Which team is best at 3 Position:

Offense: Now in my opinion the Rangers have the better offense as they are a lot more lethal then the capitals who have a really bad goal differential going into the playoffs and while their goaltending has actually been quite good and their defence has been decent at times, their offense has been a real bad part for that team and I definitely don't expect them to be able to contend with the Rangers offense.

Defence: next if we look at those two defences, they are both pretty similar but the Rangers I think have more offensive Firepower and more defensive Firepower with their top four of Trouba,  Miller, Fox and Lindgren, so I know that the Caps have a pretty good defence but I think the Rangers do have a lot better of a defence and maybe a bit more complete.

In Net: goalie wise once again I am giving the Rangers the edge, just in my opinion Shesterkin is a way better goalie then Charlie Lindgren and  as much as Lindgren has had one fantastic season this year I don't expect him to be able to keep the Capitals in that series for every game in the series, so I would expect him to have some really good games and I expect him to keep them him in there but the Rangers with Shesterkin have the edge in Net. 

Sergei Belski USA today Sports

Biggest on Ice Matchup: Lindgren vs NYR forward group

Now the biggest matchup in this series in my opinion would have to be the Rangers offense against Lindgren in Net for Washington, now the Rangers have been able to role 3-4 offensive lines night in and night out this year and have got lots of production from different places this year as they had the 6th best offense in the regular season, while the Caps don’t make the playoffs without Lindgren as they don’t have a overly great blueline and without Lindgren’s brilliant play this year the Caps don’t make the playoffs and aren’t in the middle of the pack in GA this year so I am intrigued who comes out on top in this matchup.

Predictions: 

So to wrap up in my opinion I have the Rangers winning this one in five games I think the first round series should be an easy one for the Rangers and all though the Capitals were able to scratch and claw their way and they are not going to be an easy out, I do think with the Rangers having such a talent disparity between them and the Capitals I think it's very likely that they wind up winning so I have the Rangers taking down the Capitals in a 5 game series.