Geoff JohnsonThe New York Rangers barely made it to the playoffs, but they will have a huge chance of winning game one of the series against the Capitals, and carry on with the momentum they ended the regular season. Game 1 is on Thursday at 7:30 PM ET at Verizon Center.
The Rangers won 8 of the last 11 to get into the postseason; they are hot and very dangerous. “You’re g–damn right I’m proud of ’em,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said. “I like ’em. I think it’s a good team.”
“I’m not sure what the personality of the team is — last year we knew our personality — this team’s a little different than last year, but I just think we’re sustaining better,” Tortorella said. “That’s the important thing.”
However, the Capitals know they are hot too. Washington has won 11 of the last 13 and won’t be afraid of the first round against the Rangers; a victory over New York in game one is a must have victory.
“I didn’t have doubts about the way they could play and what I think it could turn into,” coach Adam Oates said after Washington clinched a berth in the NHL playoffs. “The doubts, I think, came just because I was a first-year coach, and all the people out there that would jump on that. But I’m glad all the guys didn’t listen to them, or we fought through that.”
The moneyline for this game has the Rangers at +110 and the Capitals -130.
