Pre-Game: Capitals @ Rangers

A week ago, the Capitals found themselves in second place, one point above the Devils who were hosting the Caps on February 3rd. A loss and Washington would drop to third place, a win and the Caps would continue to push forward in hopes of catching the Boston Bruins. Solid goaltending and five goals scored against one of the league's stingiest defenses proved to be too much for the Devils.

A week later, the Caps find themselves in the same position. A win against the Rangers and Washington can retain second place. But if the Devils crush beat the Islanders tonight, they can take over second place.

The Rangers are struggling mightily and have the same number of goals (five) in their last five games as Washington does in their last four periods. They can't score at home and their last win against a top eight team in the east was December 13th against Carolina...and they needed a shootout to do it. At this point, the Rangers do not look like they have what it takes to make the playoffs.

On the Caps' side of things:

Alexander Semin is injured. That's probably the 50 billionth time I've typed that sentence, but sadly it's true. So I'm guessing no Semin-Staal rematch. Or Semin could play when he should be recovering from an injury, its not like he's never done that before...

Countdown to Michal Neuvirth's first start it T-minus three games away (maybe/hopefully)...

Jose Theodore is 11-8-2/2.41/9.16 lifetime against New York and has a seven game win streak at Madison Square Garden dating back to March 2002...

Boyd Gordon has two goals on nine shots in his career against the Rangers. That's 22.2% for you math majors...Shoot Boyd, shoot!

A season sweep of the Rangers would be the first in Cap history.