Washington-New York: Rangers Need Avery For Game Six Against Capitals

The New York Rangers still need one win to eliminate the Washington Capitals in their first round of the NHL playoff series. They could have finished the series in game five but they got rocked 4-0 in Washington.

Sean Avery was the big story in game five as he was scratched by coach John Tortorella. He is expected to be back in the lineup for game six, but that has not been confirmed.

Before Avery joined them this year, the New York team was known as "the vanilla Rangers", as they lacked toughness. Nobody called them "vanilla" once he was in the lineup.

The Rangers without Avery lack luck and play lacklustre hockey. The team chemistry is better with him in the lineup, apparently.

In game six, in New York City, Rangers fans may very well make their feelings known to Tortorella, as Avery is a fan favorite in Madison Square Garden. A fan in the stands in Washington's arena tossed an unidentified object into the Rangers bench during game five but did not hit anyone.

Rangers fans believe their team is better with Avery in the lineup and statistics support that view. His energy can be contagious, inspiring his teammates and the crowd at MSG.

His antics distract the opposition and give the Rangers an advantage. His many critics say "Avery needs to stick to hockey and play with an edge in the corners and in front of the net while not going over the line emotionally," as Sports Illustrated recently put it.

The Rangers will want Henrik Lundqvist back in net, too. He looked tired and let in four goals on 14 shots in game five, after being the first star for the Rangers in the previous four playoff games.

Rangers captain Chris Drury has been playing injured, and Washington's star defenseman, Mike Green, has been playing with the flu, according to the Capitals. Their respective teams would like to see them back at their best.

With a win, the Rangers would pull off a major upset, as the Capitals finished the season in second place in the Eastern Conference, well ahead of the Rangers, in seventh. They led the series three game to one but the Caps closed the gap.

If the Capitals win, the series will be tied and the series will come down to game seven in Washington on Tuesday.

This series has not gone as expected. The Capitals were expected to win and the Rangers were called the dark horse, most likely to upset a higher ranked team in the playoffs.

The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the series, winning in Washington, but split the games in New York, and lost in game five.

In short, I'd say the Rangers will win the series at home, if Avery is in the lineup.