NHL Playoffs 2012: Stars Who Will Lead Rangers to Game 7 Victory over Capitals

The New York Rangers weren't able to close out the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night, which means the series will go to a deciding Game 7 on Saturday night.

It's been a series filled with plenty of tension, and there should be plenty more of it with the series on the line.

Ultimately, I expect the top-seeded Rangers to survive the scare and advance to face the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference finals.

Let's take a look at three players who will help them finish off the Capitals.

Brad Richards

Signing free agents to massive contracts always comes with a lot of risk involved, but Richards has been worth every penny for the Rangers so far. He scored 66 points during the regular season and has chipped in 10 more in the playoffs.

His playmaking skills make him one of the most dangerous players left in the postseason, but he's also shown a great scoring touch to lead the offense. The Rangers are 4-1 when he scores a goal through the first two series.

The big-game experience he gained while leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup will come in handy during the pressure-packed Game 7. He should have no trouble overcoming his nerves to have a strong performance.

Dan Girardi

Girardi leads all New York defensemen in scoring with seven points in the playoffs. While that's helped the offense, it's secondary to his terrific play in the defensive zone. He has often stepped up against an opponents' top line.

What he does better than any other New York defender—and perhaps anybody left in the playoffs—is block shots. He's willing to sacrifice his body to make life easier on Henrik Lundqvist, blocking 44 shots in 13 games.

The Capitals have had pretty balanced scoring throughout the series, so Girardi will be under pressure no matter which line he gets matched up against in Game 7. He's been up to the task so far and should continue to shine.

Henrik Lundqvist

Goalies always take on a more important role during the playoffs because literally every goal can be the difference between advancing or heading home. That's especially true in Game 7 action when play usually tends to tighten up.

The Rangers have to feel confident with Lundqvist.

The Vezina Trophy candidate was terrific all season and has keep his hot streak rolling right into the playoffs. His microscopic goals against average once again proves he's one of the world's best goalies.

Even though Braden Holtby has exceeded all expectations with his play for the Capitals, you have to give the Rangers a clear edge in the net for Game 7.

It's wouldn't be a surprise to see Lundqvist steal the game with his play.