STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND SERIES
Caps, 2, Ranger 0
What – Game #3
When – 3 p.m.
Where – Madison Square Garden
TV – NBC HD
Radio – WFED-1500 AM
A chance for the Caps to take complete control of the series this afternoon at Madison Square Garden. Or maybe the Rangers get right back into it. Don’t know how he’s feeling internally, but New York coach John Tortorella took a sunny disposition – well, as sunny as Torts gets, I guess – into his pregame talk with the media. He knows as well as anyone that his team can swing the momentum of this series with a strong start. This is an extended statement from Tortorella that gives insight into the message he’s trying to get across to his players:
“The series is 2-0. But at least from my standpoint, either way, it could change. I think at times we’ve defended pretty well. Our biggest key is just to get something good to happen for us offensively. I thought their second goal the other night was a huge goal. We’re defending the power play the right way. But [the puck] deflects off one of our skates and right onto Arnott’s stick and he buries it. That was a huge goal. I’m hoping something like that happens for us. Because we’re not far off. I’m telling you right now, we’re not far off. They can’t win the series today and we can’t win the series today. But we can grab some momentum and that’s the most important thing when your involved in a series is trying to get some momentum on your side.”
Both teams have been pretty disciplined in the series so far – either that or the officials are just letting the boys play. Washington has had five power plays, scoring once. New York has had four power plays and taken the bagel. That needs to change if the Rangers want to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole.
Defense hasn’t been the big issue for New York. The Rangers have only allowed four goals, after all, in almost seven full periods of overtime. Henrik Lundqvist has done his job – with a little help from posts and crossbars in Game 1 on Wednesday.
Tortorella would only say that the “same personnel” would be employed. That could mean some line shifting again, but forward Matt Zuccarello and defenseman Steve Eminger – a former Cap – are likely out. Bruce Boudreau didn’t address his lineup, but did switch his top centers at practice yesterday – Jason Arnott to the top line and Nicklas Backstrom to the second line. Boudreau also claimed they accidentally wore the wrong jerseys and just left it that way for what was a short practice. Don’t buy that. Then again – could just be using that to give Tortorella something to chew on. Would be surprised to see any other changes for Washington. Michal Neuvirth is again in goal.
Boudreau then, meanwhile, took a little different tact than Tortorella when talking about early goals and momentum and all that.
“It’s nice to set the tone,” Boudreau said. “But at the same time if it’s in the first period there’s a lot of game to play.”
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