Rangers-Capitals: New York's Frustration Boiling Over Going Into Game Four

Game Four is a critical game in any best-of-seven series, and tonight’s game in New York is certainly no exception. 

The Rangers stunned the Capitals by winning Games One and Two in Washington.  In both games, they relied on superb goaltending by Henrik Lundqvist. 

In the opener, the Capitals significantly outplayed the Rangers, but could not overcome the very shaky goaltending of their starter Jose Theodore. In Game Two, the Rangers played a tighter game, and Henrik shut out the Caps completely. 

From the start of Game Three it was evident that Washington was determined to find a way to break the pattern. They stormed Lundqvist again and again, breaking through for two goals in the first period. 

The Rangers became frustrated at their inability to compete, and took many stupid penalties, with super-pest Sean Avery leading the way. They tried again and again to score on Washington’s third-string goaltender Simeon Varlamov, but their season-long struggle to score continued as they could find no way to get it past the kid. 

The 20-year-old Varlamov was thrown into the net for Game Two by Coach Bruce Boudreau in desperation, after losing confidence in Theodore and having his regular back-up injured. Varlamov has responded by stopping 56 of 57 shots, including the last 55 shots by the Rangers. 

The Rangers have not scored for five periods, and will be desperate for a first-period goal tonight.

Ranger fans will raise the roof to encourage their team and perhaps try to rattle the young netminder. It’s hard to know what to make of Varlamov’s protestations that he found the loud Garden crowd created a “lot of pressure”. He emphasized that he “was fighting through it the entire game.” Well fought, Simeon. 

The first period and the first goal will be critical tonight. If the Rangers score first, the crowd will add to the momentum and there will be a hard-fought battle. If the Caps score first and the Rangers are unable to match it in the first 20 minutes, expect to see the Rangers become chippy. 

It’s quite possible that tonight is the night that Avery will lose it altogether.  He hurt his team badly in Game Three, taking penalties any time the Rangers seemed they might gain some momentum. You can sense his frustration of not being the center of attention, having failed to gain any points in the series. 

So, lots to watch for this evening. Will it be a goaltender’s battle? Will Varlamov’s magic disappear? Will Callahan’s strong play result in an early goal to lead his team, or will this be the night that Ovechkin breaks it open for a couple of goals? 

Most importantly, will Rangers find a way to put a lock on the series with a win, or will the momentum completely shift to the Capitals before a return to Washington?

I will at the game watching, and sure many will tune in to a first-round series that is exceeding high expectations.