Round one shifts to Washington as the Rangers travel to DC for game three
By Conor Power
It's a game day once more for the New York Rangers. Their playoff series against the Washington Capitals has shifted to the District of Columbia, and the Rangers are looking to finish the job against the Washington Capitals. With the Rangers possessing a 2-0 series lead after winning both games at Madison Square Garden, the Blueshirts can put their opponents up against elimination. New York is in complete control of this series and has a chance to eliminate the Capitals with two wins on this trip.
Head coach Peter Laviolette confirmed that reinforcements are coming for the Blueshirts. Filip Chytil will join the Rangers on their trip to the nation's capital after missing almost the entire season with a concussion. He suffered a setback in January and was initially ruled out for the year but has returned to the fold for the Blueshirts. Blake Wheeler skated independently after his injury, so the Blueshirts are healing at the perfect time.
As the Rangers look to move into a 3-0 series lead, a lead only overcome four times in the NHL's history, they will need to find a way to beat the Capitals on the road. Washington has been able to assert itself at 5-on-5, while the Rangers have struggled to keep up with the Capitals. The Rangers have had most of the celebrations on special teams as they rode them to a win in game two. They'll be better if New York can get going at even strength.
Projected Lineups
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider - Mika Zibanejad - Jack Roslovic
Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle - Alex Wennberg - Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey - Barclay Goodrow - Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren - Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller - Braden Schneider
Erik Gustafsson - Jacob Trouba
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin - Connor McMichael - T.J. Oshie
Aliaksei Protas - Dylan Strome - Tom Wilson
Max Pacioretty - Hendrix Lapierre - Sonny Milano
Beck Malenstyn - Nic Dowd - Ivan Miroshnichenko
Martin Fehervary - John Carlson
Alexander Alexeyev - Dylan McIlrath
Lucas Johansen - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Charlie Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper
Puck Drop
It will be a 7 p.m. puck drop from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., as the Rangers look to extend their 3-0 series lead. It should be noted that Sonny Milano and Alex Wennberg are listed as game-time decisions. Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin are skating in regular jerseys this morning for the Capitals, who are getting desperate for help on the back end. New York has a chance to break the Capitals tonight; they can put the series in a commanding position.