NHL Playoffs 2011: 5 Keys to Washington Capitals' Game 1 Victory vs. NY Rangers

Tonight the Washington Capitals can begin to exercise the demons of playoffs past. It will not be easy as they encounter the New York Rangers.

The Rangers took three of four from Washington during the regular season and defeated the Caps by a combined score of 15-1 in the final three meetings. However, this year’s version of the Capitals spent almost an entire season becoming a better playoff team.

No longer are they the up-and-down, run-and-shoot offense from years past. This year the Capitals set franchise records for fewest goals allowed (191) and goals against average (2.29) in their quest to being a top-five NHL defense.

The Caps also finished the season as the second-ranked team in the NHL killing penalties. Many hockey pundits will tell you there is a formula for playoff success.

That formula has withstood the test of time, and many Stanley Cup Champions have successfully executed most, if not all, of the traits associated with it during their cup runs.

Playoff success usually comes down to playing good defense, riding a hot goalie, scoring timely goals, playing good special teams and a little bit of luck.

The Capitals have shown a knack for having most of the formula in place at various times over the last month of the season.

They play great defense and kill penalties. Their power play, which struggled for most of the season, closed out the year on a 5-for-10 run.

They definitely scored timely goals as they were winners in seven of their final eight games that extended beyond regulation. The goaltending remains a question mark, but it is not out of the question for either Semyon Varlamov or Michael Neuvirth to get hot.

They also got lucky down the stretch. Washington finished the season 16-4-1 (that is not the lucky part) and coupled with the Philadelphia Flyers folding like a cheap tent, the Caps were able to secure the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season.

Washington trailed Philadelphia by 10 points headed into the final month of the season and needed a lot of help in its climb to the top. The Caps got it, and now here we are again fans.

Here are my five keys to a Game 1 victory. 

Mike Knuble

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 22: Mike Knuble #22 of the Washington Capitals celebrates a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 22, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty

Why Mike Knuble and not the Alex's or Nicklas Backstrom? Knuble plays in front of the net, and if the Caps are going to beat the NHL's shutout leader, Henrik Lundqvist, they must crash the net and get in his face.

Knuble was resigned to a one-year contract extension recently, so there is no stress of an uncertain offseason. Knuble was hot to finish the year, scoring nine goals in his final 13 games. He notched his eighth straight 20-goal season and scored critical goals in big games against the Flyers, Blackhawks and Sabres down the stretch.

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist plays deep in his net, making him effective at playing side to side. However, when standing in front, there are many holes to choose from and Knuble must be there to pick them.

Chances are if Mike Knuble scores a goal, the Caps are on the right track at taking down King Henrik.

Score on the Power Play and Not Allow a Power Play Goal

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 22: Marcus Johansson #90 of the Washington Capitals skates during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 22, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Image

Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau showed a new look down the stretch with the extra man and it worked. Even without power play specialist Dennis Wideman, Washington was 5-for-10 to close out the season. 

That look included Alex Ovechkin, Brooks Laich, Mike Knuble and both centers, Nicklas Backstrom and rookie Marcus Johansson.

Johansson is good on the power play and provides quickness down the middle. Backstrom was instrumental in getting the puck back to his point men, which were Laich and Ovechkin. Knuble wreaked havoc in the middle and the Caps would be wise to use this look again.

Washington needs to be careful with the extra man when using no defensemen. The Rangers scored 11 shorthanded goals this season.

The Caps were 27-3-4 when they scored on the power play and 14-0-2 when they scored a PP goal and did not allow one.

Michael Neuvirth Must Not Allow the Soft Goal

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SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 9: Goaltender Michal Neuvirth #30 of the Washington Capitals skates prior to the NHL game against the Florida Panthers on April 9, 2011 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Michael Neuvirth gets his first shot in the NHL playoffs tonight. Neuvirth will try to duplicate his success in the AHL playoffs, as he and not Semyon Varlamov has been given the nod for the Game 1 start.

Neuvirth was 30-10 with 1.98 goals against average and a .927 save percentage in two playoff seasons in Hershey. He won the Jack Adams award as playoff MVP in 2009 and was instrumental in the Bears' back-to-back Calder Cup winning seasons.

Neuvirth was stellar as a rookie in goal for Washington. He set the franchise mark for most wins by a rookie with 27 and finished the season with 2.45 goals against and a .914 save percentage.

The problem with Neuvirth is his lack of focus at times in games. He has a knack for allowing the proverbial soft goal. He allowed a lazy shot from the blue line to trickle in against the Sabres.

He also allowed questionable goals against the Blue Jackets and Flyers in crucial games down the stretch. Neuvy cannot allow the soft goal. There is no salvaging a point in overtime and goals will be at a premium in this series. 

Allowing an easy goal may also lead to a shattering of confidence, as I am sure coach Boudreau will not hesitate to go to Varlamov. If Neuvirth plays well in Game 1 and the Caps win, there may be no turning back.

Start Fast

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PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 21: Head coach Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals watches from the bench during the NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on February 21, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Capitals defeated

Even though the Caps were the best team in the NHL when allowing the first goal or trailing after one period, they must start fast in Game 1.

Bruce Boudreau's guys must get the jump on a New York team that plays well on the road. Washington scored just 54 first period goals all season and only the lowly Edmonton Oilers scored less.

However, the Caps have turned that trend around, and it has worked in their favor in recent weeks.

More than a fourth of that total has been amassed in the last 13 games. They have had at least one first period goal in 10 of those 13 contests.

Scoring first is not a must, as the Caps have proved in the past, but it could go a long way in boosting their playoff confidence.

Score 3 Goals

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SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 9: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates prior to the NHL game against the Florida Panthers on April 9, 2011 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

It is this simple Caps fans. When Washington scores three or more goals they never lose a hockey game. Washington was 39-0-3 when scoring three or more goals this season.

It has been my contention all along that the first team to three goals wins any game in the series.