Rangers brace for test from high-powered Caps

Hockey Betting Lines

03/06/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After struggling to keep the opposition off the scoreboard their most recent time out, the New York Rangers now have to face the NHL's most potent offense in tonight's showdown with the powerful Washington Capitals from the Verizon Center.

The Rangers were peppered with 55 shots in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden, yet still managed to earn an important point due to a career-best 50 saves from goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist turned aside 18-of-19 chances during a third period in which the Rangers mustered only a single shot on goal, but the Swedish standout was unable to come up with Evgeni Malkin's blast on a 4-on-3 power play with 1:18 remaining in the extra session."

"Hank was outstanding and gave us an opportunity," New York head coach John Tortorella. "At the end of the night, we grabbed a point out of here. Although it is an ugly one, it is a point."

The Rangers had won three in a row prior to Thursday's setback and are engaged in a heated battle for the final few postseason berths in the Eastern Conference. New York presently sits in a tie with both Atlanta and Montreal for eighth place in the standings and is just one point back of Boston for the No. 7 spot.

Lundqvist figures to face another stern challenge tonight, as the Capitals' 251 goals this season is 46 more than second-place Chicago among NHL clubs and the team has scored five times or more in six of its last eight contests, including a 6-5 triumph over the Rangers on February 4 in which Lundqvist stopped just 26-of-32 shots.

Washington kept up its offensive prowess in Thursday's 5-4 decision over Tampa Bay at the Verizon Center, with both Mike Knuble and recently-acquired Scott Walker each lighting the lamp twice to lead the Caps to their second straight win following the Olympic break.

Walker, who came over from Carolina during Wednesday's trade deadline, had scored only three times in 33 games with the Hurricanes this season. It was the 36-year-old grinder's first multi-goal effort since March 2, 2007.

"I'm just excited to be here and get the two points for the team," he said afterward.

Walker was one of four players brought in by Washington to bolster the Eastern Conference front-runners for the upcoming postseason. Center Eric Belanger and defenseman Joe Corvo also participated in Thursday's win after being acquired from Minnesota and Carolina, respectively. The Caps also landed defenseman Milan Jurcina from Columbus on Wednesday, but the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Slovak will miss at least a month due to a sports hernia.

Mike Green notched two assists for Washington on Thursday to extend his personal point streak to seven games. The All-Star defenseman has recorded three goals and eight helpers over that time.

The Rangers hope the anticipated return of star sniper Marian Gaborik will help enable them to keep pace with the high-scoring Capitals. The dangerous right wing, who ranks fifth in the NHL with 35 goals this season, sat out New York's first two tilts following the Olympic break after sustaining a groin injury while competing for Slovakia at the Vancouver Games.

Gaborik has four goals and two assists over the three previous meetings between the teams this season, two of which have been won by Washington. The Capitals are 7-1-1 over their last nine regular-season matchups with the Rangers, and New York has been dealt losses in four of its five most recent non-playoff visits to the Verizon Center.

The Rangers did post a 4-3 victory in their latest trip to Washington, though, with Gaborik tallying twice in that October 8 win.