Caps-Rangers preview

No. 2 WASHINGTON CAPITALS vs. No. 7 NEW YORK RANGERS

Capitals lines

FORWARDS

First line

Alex Ovechkin

Nicklas Backstrom

Viktor Kozlov

Second line

Brooks Laich

Sergei Fedorov

Alexander Semin

Third line

Tomas Fleischmann

Michael Nylander

Eric Fehr

Fourth line

Donald Brashear

David Steckel

Boyd Gordon/Matt Bradley

DEFENSEMEN

First pair

Shaone Morrisonn

Mike Green

Second pair

Tom Poti

Brian Pothier

Third pair

John Erskine

Milan Jurcina

GOALIES

Jose Theodore

Simeon Varlamov

Extras: D Jeff Schultz, RW Chris Clark

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Capitals G Jose Theodore

Can there be anybody else? Theodore’s play was going to be a big story in this series, and his substandard effort in Game 1 only magnified it. If Theodore doesn’t rebound with a better performance, the Caps could find themselves in an 0-2 hole when the series moves to Manhattan.

Rangers lines

Forwards

First line

Sean Avery

Scott Gomez

Nik Antropov

Second line

Markus Naslund

Chris Drury

Ryan Callahan

Third line

Lauri Korpikoski

Brandon Dubinsky

Nikolai Zherdev

Fourth line

Fredrik Sjostrom

Blair Betts

Colton Orr

Defensemen

First pair

Wade Redden

Michal Rozsival

Second pair

Marc Staal

Dan Girardi

Third pair

Paul Mara

Derek Morris

Goalies

Henrik Lundqvist

Stephen Valiquette

Extra: RW Aaron Voros

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Rangers D Wade Redden

Redden has drawn the ire of Rangers fans this season - was it his fault general manager Glen Sather offered six years and $39 million? - for his performance, but coach John Tortorella decided to switch from Marc Staal and Dan Girardi as his anti-Ovechkin pair to Redden and Michal Rozsival during Game 1, and the result was a success. Redden logged more than 27 minutes of ice time - the most he has played since Tortorella became coach in late February.

STORY LINES

1. BULLPEN WATCH

The Caps need a bounce-back performance from goaltender Jose Theodore. If he doesn’t improve from Game 1… then what happens? Expect fans to groan and call for Simeon Varlamov with every goal Theodore allows (unless the Caps go up big early). Coach Bruce Boudreau is probably two soft goals by Theodore away from making the switch.

2. WORKING THE REFS

Both coaches have said plenty about the officiating in Game 1. Boudreau said he felt Mike Green was interfered with on New York’s first goal, and Shaone Morrisonn’s stick was slashed in half during the play that led to the Rangers’ second tally. Tortorella said he felt the Caps’ centers weren’t on the level in the faceoff circle.

3. SALVAGING A SPLIT

This isn’t do-or-die for Washington - but consider it close to that. The odds of the Caps winning this series would take a dramatic turn for the worse if the Rangers return home with a 2-0 lead. The Caps must solve Henrik Lundqvist and earn a split on home ice.

- Corey Masisak