NHL Free Pick: Capitals vs. Rangers Betting Odds & Handicapping Preview

Round two flew by as the Blackhawks swept the Wild, the Ducks disposed of Calgary and the Lightning took six games to knock off the Canadiens. All eyes turn to the final series to decide a berth in the semi finals.  The Capitals were able to mount an improbable 3-1 series lead on the Rangers and took a 1-0 lead into the final three minutes of game five. The Rangers rallied in that game and have drawn level in the series with a chance to make yet another comeback in the second round and move to the Eastern Conference final.

The gas tank just seems to be running very low for this team that endured a brutal seven game series with the Islanders in round one. Washington started out the series looking strong and were able to use their size and strength to neutralize the speed of the Rangers. That game plan seemed to be working like a charm but the Caps have slowed down a bit and the Rangers have clawed their way back in this.

If this team is going to win game seven they need their big guns to step up. Alexander Ovechkin has been held pointless since game two of the series and Nicklas Backstrom has only managed to register one assist this series and that came all the way back in game one.

The blue collar guys on the team like Joel Ward, Jason Chimera, and Troy Brouwer have been carrying the load for this team for much of this series and that needs to change if the Caps are going to find a way to win. Goalie Braden Holtby needs to have his best game as well tonight. The Caps’ netminder had a bit of a shaky outing in game six and was beaten four times in a 4-3 defeat.

Washington needs a lot to go their way tonight.

We’ve all seen this movie before; the Rangers plod along early in a series and can’t seem to get it in gear then all of a sudden a switch is hit and they start to rally. They did it last year against Pittsburgh and they’re on the cusp of doing it to the Caps this year.

Henrik Lundqvist has been a big reason for this series even getting to a game seven as he pretty much won game six on his own. The Rangers were outshot 45-28 on the game and 28-10 over the final two periods where Lundqvist stole the show. The offense woke up a bit in game six, finally registering more than three goals in the post season. Whether that was an anomaly or this team has actually found its stride offensively remains to be seen.

A great sign for the Rangers and their fans is that Rick Nash finally snapped out of an eight game scoring slump. The Rangers are going to need their big sniper to start finding his scoring touch especially against a team like Washington that can score goals in bunches.

Capitals vs. Rangers 4* Free Pick

Not much reason to think that the Rangers don’t pull this off tonight. The Rangers have stolen all the momentum and will have home ice advantage. The Capitals, as mentioned, seem to be running out of steam and I think the pace that the Rangers bring has just worn them out and there won’t be much left in the tank for a the biggest game of their season tonight.

The X-factors certainly lie with the Capitals as Alex Ovechkin has the ability to turn a game on its head with just one play and if Nicklas Backstrom can wake up then Washington certainly has a puncher’s chance tonight. Unfortunately that’s about all the Caps have tonight, they’re going to need a lucky bounce somewhere or a brilliant play from their captain if they want to move on to round three.

Take the Rangers to win this and move on to the Eastern Conference final.