History shows 2-0 lead not safe for this franchise
The momentum can change in an instant in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau knew his team was in trouble during last year’s shocking first-round loss to Montreal when a lackluster start led to a Game 5 loss at home.
What was a 3-1 series lead for Washington soon evaporated — the latest playoff disaster for an organization that has had its fair share over the years. So the Caps will do everything in their power to keep the New York Rangers from a similar turnaround in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinals, which moves to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Sunday afternoon with Washington up 2-0.
“[The Rangers] are going to come out with a strong effort and use the momentum and energy of the crowd. It’ll be crazy in there the first five or 10 minutes,” veteran forward Mike Knuble said. “It’ll be up to us to be as equally stingy and maybe try to take some of the momentum back by making them play in their own end.”
| Caps notes |
| » Sunday’s Game 3 between the Caps and the New York Rangers is a 3 p.m. start and will be broadcast on NBC. |
| » Washington coach Bruce Boudreau swapped centers at practice Saturday, with Jason Arnott moving to the top line and Nicklas Backstrom to the second line. |
| » Injured Caps defenseman Dennis Wideman (right leg hematoma) again skated on his own before practice Saturday while wearing warmup gear. It was his second time on the ice since being released from the hospital Monday. |
| East quarterfinals |
| Caps vs. Rangers |
| Game 1 Wash. 2, N.Y. 1 (OT) |
| Game 2 Washington 2, N.Y. 0 |
| Sunday at New York, 3 |
| Wednesday at New York, 7 |
| Saturday at Washington, 3* |
| April 25 at New York, TBD* |
| April 27 at Washington, TBD* |
| * If necessary; all times p.m. |
Washington has a checkered history when ahead early in a postseason series. Eight times the Caps have gone ahead of an opponent 2-0. Yet they have won just three of those series. That 3-5 record includes some best-of-fives under the old NHL format. In seven-game series Washington is 1-4 when it wins the first two games.
Of course, the players on the current roster are responsible for just one of those — the 2009 Eastern Conference semifinals against Pittsburgh, in which the Caps won the first two at home before eventually falling in seven. But the blown 3-1 lead vs. Montreal looms large as well. It’s just not something they want to bring up.
“Everyone on the team knows what happened in previous years,” Caps defenseman John Erskine said. “We’re up 2-0, and we want to go into New York — a tough rink to play in where they’ll come out hard — and stay on top of them.”
Washington goalie Michal Neuvirth has allowed just one goal on 47 shots so far. But his teammates are also keeping the Rangers away from his net and limiting quality scoring chances. That task becomes more difficult when the venue changes. New York beat the Caps 7-0 at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 12.
“Ultimately you haven’t accomplished anything. You’ve got a lead in the series, but nothing is settled, and it’s still up for grabs,” Knuble said. “They still have three home games possibly. To win a series you’ve got to do something on the road, play well on the road, and we intend to do that.”
