Rangers prepare for Ovechkin
The New York Rangers know exactly what to expect from the Washington Capitals in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s going to be physical, and it’s going to take another big defensive effort. This time the task will be stopping Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. It is the fifth time since 2009 that the teams will meet in the playoffs. The Rangers eliminated Washington from the 2012 and 2013 playoffs — in Game 7 each time. The Rangers had their first full practice Tuesday in preparation for the Capitals, working out for roughly an hour at their Westchester training facility. Game 1 will be Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, after helping the Capitals win their first-round series, the club has re-assigned backup goalie Philipp Grubauer to Hershey of the American Hockey League.