Injuries Shaping Both Teams
The Rangers go into tonight’s game once again missing the services of Marc Staal, Ryane Clowe and Darroll Powe. The trio played in just a one, two and three games respectively in the Capitals series, with all three missing the final two wins.
For Boston, things are a little more unsettled. Brad Marchand will play after injuring himself in the morning skate, but defenders Wade Redden, Dennis Seidenberg and Andrew Ference will likely all be out tonight. Seidenberg did play in the Game 7 while Redden missed Game 5 & 7 and Ference missed the last two.
It’s Okay To Be Optimistic
Rangers fans could be forgiven to be pessimistic. The franchise has won only one Cup in the past 72 seasons, and has missed the playoffs 13 times in the past 40 years. They have a losing record in the playoffs – wins/losses – against each of the other original six teams, and didn’t secure a playoff spot until the second to last game of the season.
In the first round, Rick Nash, Ryan Callahan, Derek Stepan and Brad Richards, the four offensive leaders during the regular season, accounted for just 3 of the Rangers’ 15 goals, with Nash and Richards only getting one of those three.