Game 3 Caps @ Rangers 4-20-2009 Preview

Series B: Washington Capitals (50-34; 108 points; 1st Southeast Division, 2nd Eastern Conference, 4th Overall) vs. New York Rangers (45-39; 95 points; 4th Atlantic Division; 7th Eastern Conference, 12th Overall):
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game #3, Caps Game #3, Road Game #1, NHL Game #123

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY. 7:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM, WTOP 1050-AM. New York TV: MSG. Radio: WEPN 1050-AM. U.S. National TV: Versus. Canadian National TV: TSN, RDS (French).

Tonight the Caps hit the road to get away from their own house of Playoff Horrors when they travel up to New York to play the Rangers in Game 3. The numbers are not on the Caps side when down 2-0 in a series. The Caps have never won Game 3 when down 2-0 (as a matter of fact, they've been swept swept in all but one instance) and the Rangers have not blown a 2-0 series lead on home ice since 1968.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post: not impossible, eerie similarities. Times: slow starting, surprised, Game 3 Preview. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com: AP Preview, need to relax.

Open Source Intelligence:

Newsday. New York Daily News. New York Times. New York Post. Rangers.com.

Open Source Stupidity:

MSG.

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

Stop us if you've heard us say this before, but the Caps have to get to Henrik Lundqvist early and we're not talking about registering double digit shots on goal. We're talking about goals, the more the better, but even just one will do. Even if the Caps the trail 5-1 after the first period, it will be an improvement because so far, the Caps haven't gotten one past Lundqvist in the first period and after Saturday's game, the longer the Caps go without scoring on Lundqvist, the more frustrated they will become. The theme of today is two fold, and first is above all is to relax. Now that the Caps are down 2-0 and playing on the road, the pressure is gone. No longer do the Caps have to put on a show for their home fans, no longer are the Caps really expected to win this series; now they can't get entirely away from the people saying "what's going on?" because of the media horde following them around but they no longer have the distractions of home. Those now belong to the Rangers who are playing in front of fans who are now expecting a sweep and an impressive one to boot. The second theme is to believe that they can dig out of this hole. We have to admit, we don't like our chances and if the Caps are going to come back in the series, well then tonight is a MUST WIN GAME and there are no two ways about it. Certainly the Caps did beat the Rangers three times in four games this season but at this point, we're talking about beating them four times in a period of seven days should they lose this game tonight. We think we'll have an early idea of this is game heading after the first period tonight because if the Caps are held off the scoreboard again, it is going to be a long night and a quick series.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Rangers 3
Winner by Avery

(0-2 in the postseason)