The Washington Capitals have clinched the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and they will play the Rangers in the First Round.
The Rangers were 2-2 against the Capitals this season with both teams scoring nine times and allowing nine goals.
The Capitals have a minus-37 goal differential this season.
The series will pit Ryan Lindgren against his brother, Capitals goalie, Charlie Lindgren, Peter Laviolette against the team he coached the prior three seasons, Max Pacioretty against his childhood favorite team, and one he opted against waiving his no-move for at this past trade deadline, possibly Dylan McIlrath and Alex Ovechkin against the Rangers in the playoffs for the first time since 2014-15, which was also the last time the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy. There is also Tom Wilson and he is always going to be factor with his history and style of play.
Adam Rotter: The Caps played the Rangers tough this season, Charlie Lindgren was usually very good and their defensive system limited the Rangers for stretches. But the Rangers are a much better and deeper team in all areas and they should win the series.
Washington will probably shut them down for a game, maybe two, but this is a much more favorble matchup for the Rangers than Tampa Bay would have been or even all the pressure and emotion that would come with playing the Islanders. The Caps are playing with house money as it seemed like they heading toward a rebuild, but they got hot, Alex Ovechkin got going, Charlie Lindgren emerged and their defense helped carry them. It’s not going to be an easy series, the Caps will grind them, trap them and try to style them defensively, but the Rangers should be able to come out on top.