Caps VS Rangers 

It’s just a hockey game, how different could the news stories be? There are only a few reasons to have different news stories. Each team wants to be the best, have the best players and make the most money. The challenge for each team is to be unique, drawing the best players and add revenue to make their team successful.   

  This season has been quite different for the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers. The Caps may have started with hopes of having a good season but that did not pan out as expected. They fired their coach in mid-season and fought to get into the playoffs. The rangers on the other hand, had a good season missing the president’s trophy (given to the team with the most points) by only two points, but still wining the Eastern Conference and a number one seed in the playoffs.

Stakes are legitimately high for the NEW York Rangers. They acquired a new goalie whose season had been phenomenal, added a center second on the team in scoring goals, and signed another productive forward. This year they finished the season on top of the eastern conference standings for the first time since 1994, coasting into the playoffs without having to fight for a playoff spot, which allowed them the luxury of resting some of their key players.

Some of the differences in play this year include the attention to defense, staying focused the duration of the full game, and making the opponent work just as hard if not harder to win the game. The teams’ downside is their ability to score on power plays which has been an abysmal failure this year.  If their ability to score with a man advantage is lacking they may be in big trouble.  But the biggest reason the Rangers are favored to win the cup this year is there goalie, one of the best in the NHL  with seven times winning 30 games or more. He is having an incredible year with the advantage of going into the playoffs rested will only help.

The Washington Capitals where expected to make an early exit this year. Nobody really gave them much of a chance. Their starting and backup goalie had suffered injuries forcing them to rely on a rooky goalie that had played very few regular season games, not to mention having to play in the first round against the defending Stanley Cup winner. A new coach took over in midseason upsetting and slowing the downward spiral they had begun allowing them to find ways to win. This  may actually be  helpful in the playoffs since they have experienced some very close games and they may not be as panicked and calmer during the close one.  Most years the caps are favored or have a team that looks good but finds a way to lose games. This year they were expected to lose in the first round, but by winning the pressure should be off.   

Both teams have the same goal ‘THE STANLEY CUP’ in mind. The rangers may have the advantage in that the goalies should be able to carry the team. Lundqvist the Rangers goalie is have a tremendous season. He has changed things up some allowing him time off during the regular season.  He has played only 62 games this year. Braden Holtby the goal tender for the capitals exceeded expectations in his first series with the Boston Bruins. After Injuries to Vokoun and Neuvirth (the starting and backup goalies) late in the regular season Holtby was called up to play in the biggest game of his life. And as crazy as it may be Washington’s biggest question was there biggest strength in the first series.

Wednesday night the game went into triple overtime, it was the twentieth longest game in NHL history, starting at 7:40pm and stretching into the next day ending at 12:14am.  For the rangers it was there forth longest game ever. For both teams when you play almost two games in one night players get tired faster. Overall as the night goes on the mental and physical strain increases. The time the players can play at any given time is reduced forcing changes, and potentially giving the other team an advantage.  This was yet another game that was decided by only one point. Of the ten games that the Caps played in the playoffs nine have been decided by one point.

Surprisingly the media coverage was for the most part accurate and to the point. Lundqvist, stopped 45 shots for the Rangers, while Holtby stopped 47 shots for the Capitals.  There was some debate as to who would have the advantage because of such a long game. Washington thought they may have the edge because of the style of defense that New York plays. But the biggest advantage may be one that will not be reported, the hits that players deliver.  

One of the biggest differences is the head coaches. The Rangers coach John Tortorella is one of the most outspoken blunt coaches in the NHL and not afraid to speak his mind when asked. In his press conferences he will routinely tell the media that he will not talk about what they are asking, or will simply say next question.   

Both the Washington and New York media report primarily on the game and the different plays. With the exception of controversial plays or calls. Because of hockey’s brutal physical play most if not all injures are kept out of the media because other teams will be able to play off their weakness.  Each media market will repot primarily on that city’s players and statistics for the game, as to be expected. However because of the play of Washington’s goal tender Braden Holtby he is reported in both Washington and New York.  He even was listed as a star selection on the Rangers website for the game May 2.