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And Finally, The Steel Cage Death Match Series. On Caps vs. NY Rangers...

May 2, 2013, 2:57 PM ET [34 Comments]
Eklund
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#3 Capitals vs. #6 NY Rangers
Regular Season History:
Capitals Wins (Goals Scored): 92 (680)
Rangers Wins (Goals Scored): 87 (673)
Ties:18

Playoff History:
Capitals Series Wins (Goals Scored): 4 (120)
Rangers Series Wins (Goals Scored): 3 (105)

The Ek Bullets:
On the Capitals:
The Caps went 15-2-2 in the final 17 games of the season and are the hottest team in the playoffs. Ovechkin scored 19 goals in those 17 games after being called out by Mike Milbury and looking completely disinterested for the first 2/3rds of the season. Yet somehow he turned it all around and took the Caps on his shoulders.

On the Rangers:
The Rangers went 10-3-2 to finish the season and they needed to be that good as they were oh so close to seeing the Jets pass them in the standings on the final Thursday of the season. Marc Staal is skating but not yet ready to play (although who here would bet against a Staal suddenly appearing in the near future?)

This year’s games


February 17
Washington 1 0 0 1
NY Rangers 0 1 1 2
GOAL SCORERS:
1ST PERIOD:
WSH 01:19 - JOHN CARLSON (2)
2ND PERIOD:
NYR 07:39 - CARL HAGELIN (6)
3RD PERIOD:
NYR 04:25 (PPG) - DEREK STEPAN (3)
GOALIES:
WSH: B. HOLTBY (L) NYR: H. LUNDQVIST (W)



March 10th
NY Rangers 1 2 1 4
Washington 1 0 0 1
GOAL SCORERS:
1ST PERIOD:
WSH 02:16 - STEVE OLEKSY (1)
NYR 11:31 - DEREK STEPAN (6)
2ND PERIOD:
NYR 10:53 - BRIAN BOYLE (1)
NYR 11:34 (PPG) - RYAN CALLAHAN (8)
3RD PERIOD:
NYR 18:48 - BRAD RICHARDS (4)
GOALIES:
NYR: M. BIRON (W) WSH: M. NEUVIRTH , B. HOLTBY (L




March 24th
Washington 2 0 0 0 1 (2 - 4) 3
NY Rangers 2 0 0 0 0 (1 - 4) 2
GOAL SCORERS:
1ST PERIOD:
WSH 07:54 (PPG) - NICKLAS BACKSTROM (5)
WSH 09:45 - ALEX OVECHKIN (16)
NYR 14:12 - ARRON ASHAM (2)
NYR 18:03 (PPG) - DEREK STEPAN (9)
SO:
WSH - ALEX OVECHKIN
NYR - DEREK STEPAN
WSH - NICKLAS BACKSTROM
GOALIES:
WSH: B. HOLTBY (W) NYR: H. LUNDQVIST (L)


The Ek Playoff Factors
When you look at teams who win playoff series there are 3 Factors that always seem to separate those who have success from those who go down hard: Goaltending, Special Teams, Depth Scoring

Goaltending:
Rangers +2
Special Teams:
PP: Caps 1, NY Rangers 23
PK: Caps 27, NY Rangers 15
Caps +2, Rangers 0
Third Line Scoring:
Rangers +1

more Ek Factors:

Revenge Factor:
Caps +2
Health:
Rangers -1
Experience:
Caps +1, Rangers +2
Home Ice:
Caps +1, Rangers +2
Hot or Not?:
Caps +3, Rangers +2
Ek Factor Advantage Goes To:
Caps +9 , Rangers 8

Crystal Ball
This is most difficult series top predict and as you look at it you tend to go less to "Who can win this series?" to "Who can survive this series?" I keep coming back to the same conclusion...The Rangers are going to need Marc Staal to win this series. However, I do believe the Rangers are the better team in general...and they have the best goalie. The Caps have the best power play in the NHL, but they are going to have to score 5-5 to advance I believe....In conclusion....No friggin clue on this one. So going with the gut...

Rangers in 7
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