Day: April 10, 2011

It hasn’t been the prettiest of seasons for the Rangers, but in the end they’ve given themselves a chance. Going into yesterday’s match ups between the Rangers and Devils, and the equally important Lightning and Hurricanes game later in the evening, you would have been forgiven if you though the odds were stacked against the Blueshirts.

Over the last couple of weeks we had watched as a seemingly comfortable lead evaporated, as first the Canadiens and Sabres moved past the Rangers, and finally on Friday the Hurricanes pushed into the eighth and final playoff spot.

The last time the Rangers and Capitals met in the playoffs, was in 2009 when the Rangers blew a 3-1 series lead to lose in Game 7. It was John Tortorella’s first and only playoff series as Rangers’ head coach, and he’ll be behind the bench again as the Rangers and Capitals open up the series on Wednesday.

The Caps have turned it around since a 6-0 loss to New York on February 25th, finishing the year 16-3-1 and allowing more than two goals in just four of those games. By contrast the Rangers have gone 11-7-1 over the same period, and managed two or fewer goals – excluding shootout goals – in twelve of those games.