Notes From Practice
The Rangers head off to D.C. later today, as they continue their preparation for tomorrow’s Game 1 match-up with the Capitals. All four injured players will make the trip with the team, although none are expected to be in the line-up tomorrow.
Brian Boyle and Ryane Clowe remain off the ice, while Derek Dorsett is still yet to get clearance on his broken clavicle, and remains in the non-contact jersey. Marc Staal told reporters today that he probably won’t play in Game 1, which could be promising in the sense that there was even a possibility he could.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt
The Rangers and Capitals are set to meet for the 8th time in the post season, with this being the fourth time in the last five years that the teams will have met. The Capitals hold a 4-3 series lead to date, having won in 1990, 1991, 2009 and 2011, while the Rangers have prevailed in 1986, 1994 and last year.
In fact, only the Canadiens (61) and the Flyers (47) have played the Rangers more than the Capitals (41) in the post season. 19 of the 41 games the two teams have played in the post season, have come in the last four seasons, two seven game series and a five game series.