| 21 April 2009
Washington Capitals 1-2 vs. New York Rangers 2-1
Game Four
Madison Square Garden
We're using the same image from Monday for one very obvious reason: The Capitals are still losing this series and, despite having some momentum to work with, it's a long way to the four wins needed to dispatch the Rangers. There's plenty of hope amongst the Capitals faithful, for good reason, but before we start planning parade routes I think we need to recognize we're still the losers in this series, at the moment.
If Game Three was a statement game for the Capitals, then Game Four has to be an encore of the offensive skill and disciplined play we saw Monday. For the Rangers, it's going to be a revenge game and a mad scramble to not give up their home ice advantage as the Capitals did. In front of a rowdy New York City crowd, the Rangers turned in a pre-Tortorella performance, and Sean Avery left his insignificant mark on the series. Even some brilliant goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist couldn't keep the Rangers in pace with the Capitals.
Pace, that's what this game will come down to yet again. The Capitals drew blood on the Rangers twice in the first, and after that it was lights out. The Rangers are a better defensive team, but their offensive skill just doesn't match up to the Capitals. As we've mentioned numerous times before, if the Capitals can force the Rangers into playing their skill game, then the Rangers won't be able to keep up -- or at least they haven't shown they'll be able to.
Perhaps the biggest story coming into tonight's game is rookie goaltender Simeon Varlamov, who's first career shutout occurred Monday. Varlamov looked cool and composed, he grew stronger as each shot came on net, and he even was able to contribute to the agitation of Sean Avery. Varlamov is playing like a goaltender who is 25 or 27, not 20, but playing in big games isn't necessarily new to him. In the Russian Super League, Varlamov played in the RSL finals with his team the Yaroslav Lokomotiv, so a few drunken New Yorkers who he can't understand probably won't phase him. Varly has proven he has the talent and composure, and if the Caps defense provides another solid night we may be making more Photoshops of "the Czar" before the night is over.
The Caps will also be looking for strong performances from Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Semin. The duo were the catalyst that ignited the Capitals offense last year after Ovechkin was stymied by the Flyers, and this year they were the keys to the Caps offense again. Backstrom earned three assists and Semin notched the two first-period goals that put the Rangers on their heels. With much of the focus likely to be on those two, it's time for Ovechkin and Mike Green, who haven't recorded goals this series, to emerge and make the offense as dangerous as they are advertised.
Monday night was everything the Capitals needed it to be, but tonight is the true test. A loss tonight negates just about any good the win Monday did, and the team will be scrambling for its playoff life. If they come out with the win, the series will change dramatically, and the Capitals will return to a fever-pitch Verizon Center with their mojo in full effect.
LET'S GO CAPS!
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