newjerseynewsroom.com

BY SAM HITCHCOCK

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

COMMENTARY

They lost the game, but the play unfolded very similarly. The Capitals lost Game 6 last Wednesday to the Boston Bruins in OT, done in by a beautiful individual effort by Tyler Seguin. But the goal that forced the extra time by Alexander Ovechkin came off of a faceoff win by Nicklas Backstrom.

This past Monday, the Rangers experienced the same formidable matchup that Ovechkin and Backstrom present, a tandem comprised of two of the most skilled players in the League. When they are playing a high-level, high-tempo game, unusual occurrences happen in concatenation: faceoff specialist Brian Boyle loses a faceoff, and all-world goalie Henrik Lundqvist gets beaten from past 40 feet (although Troy Brouwer’s screen played a part). These things don’t happen to the 2011-2012 Rangers, not this year.

Approximately 1,000 different articles and columns came out covering the Rangers-Capitals Game 2 Monday night, and roughly 1,000 of them said the same thing. Basically, “These teams are mirror images of each other. They clog shooting lanes and block shots. Both grind along the walls, fight against the boards, and crash the net. The Rangers need to stop Ovechkin because he is their key offensive player, but also, look at how much maturity Ovechkin is showing by playing limited minutes and accepting his role!”

Well, the good news is this article will focus on two differences between the teams by covering some less discussed issues, and try to provide some insight on what to look for going forward.

First Difference:

The Caps like to attack off the rush much like the Rangers, but how they attack is in stark contrast. Stu Bickel’s turnover that led to Mike Knuble’s goal is a perfect example of a difference in style.

When Bickel turned the puck over and it led to a 3-on-2 odd-man rush for the Capitals, Washington’s defensemen stayed home and let their forwards create the opportunity instead of jumping into the play. The Rangers differ because when they attack on the rush, their defensemen get in on the scoring chance and their pinch in the play can lead to goals, as in the Game 7 victory over Ottawa. The 2-1 win came from the sticks of Marc Staal and Dan Girardi, and a unique gift that Tortorella’s defensemen possess is having the speed and skating ability to press offensively and still get back defensively.

Once upon a time, Washington’s Mike Green used to specialize in this (in his Norris Trophy discussion days), but he has seen his offensive impact take a step backwards since returning from injury and with Dale Hunter filling in as interim head coach. Now when he pushes the puck up the ice, he is looking to dump as he crosses the red line, and you will not see Green attacking along the wings like Michael Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh or Staal on an odd-man rush. (Similar to Dennis Wideman, Green plays aggressively in the offensive zone so in that capacity he makes his offensive presence felt.)

Of the Rangers’ 19 postseason goals, four have come from defensemen. Of the Capitals’ 20 postseason goals, only one has come from a defenseman. Anton Stralman leads the Rangers defense with two, and his heavy shot is an important instrument on the Rangers power play.