No. 3 WASHINGTON CAPITALS (27-18-3) VS No. 6 NEW YORK RANGERS (26-18-4)
STRENGTHS
CAPITALS: A year ago, the Capitals had only the 18th-best power play in the league at 16.7 per cent. This year, thanks in large part to head coach Adam Oates, a power-play specialist, they have the best, finishing at 26.8 per cent, only the fourth team to finish with a proficiency rate of at least 25 per cent since 1998. Up front, the team has a formidable top six: Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson on the first line, Mike Ribeiro, Troy Brouwer and Martin Erat on the second line. Backstrom finished third in assists with 40.
RANGERS: In Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers have one of the game’s better goalies. He was tied for first in wins with 24, among the top five in save percentage at .926, and had two shutouts. That’s why the Rangers are among the league leaders in goals-allowed, at a mere 2.25 per game. Up front, the acquisition of Ryane Clowe and Derick Brassard at the trade deadline addressed the team’s need for offensive depth. On defence, however, the club is still missing Marc Staal, who got hit by a puck in his right eye on March 5. He’s practising but not ready to return.
WEAKNESSES
CAPITALS: While the power play sits at the top of the league, they are not very good at killing penalties. The penalty-killing efficiency is 77.9, fourth worst in the league. If they get into penalty trouble, they could be one and done. Up front, they’ll miss the versatile Brooks Laich, who is likely out until the second round with a groin problem.
RANGERS: Their specialty teams are middling to poor. The power play finished 23rd with an efficiency of 15.7 per cent and penalty killing was 15th at 81.1. That’s a big drop from a year ago, when it was fifth. It’s a good thing they have Lundqvist, but if they start taking penalties against the Capitals they’ll be in big trouble.
BREAKING IT DOWN
FOR THE CAPITALS TO WIN: They need Ovechkin to stay hot. After a slow start that had critics writing his obit, Ovechkin has 23 goals and 13 assists in his final 23 games and won the Maurice Richard goal-scoring crown for the third time with 32 goals in 48 games. In an 82-game season, that would have him on a pace to score 55 goals.
FOR THE RANGERS TO WIN: They’ll need some production from Derek Stepan (18 goals, 26 assists), Rick Nash (21 goals, 21 assists) and Brad Richards (11 goals, 23 assists). The Rangers finished the regular season in the middle of the pack for goals-for, with 2.68 per game.