The matchup is set. The New York Rangers are taking on the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The President’s Trophy winners have had a franchise record-breaking season, and have made a name for themselves as a dangerous playoff-caliber team for a while. The Caps fought hard to clinch their second wild-card spot in the East, and are continuing to bring their high-energy momentum to the competitive ice.
What to Look Forward to in The New York Rangers
There is a lot of hype to be garnered for this particular series. This first-round playoff series will be the first time that the Rangers and Capitals have been matched up in the playoffs since 2015. Current Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette, who was hired last offseason, coached the rival Capitals from 2020 to 2023. The goaltending matchup includes Charlie Lindgren for Washington, who is the older brother of Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
During their most recent postseason matchup in 2015, the Rangers knocked out Washington in seven games in the second round of the playoffs. Two years before that in 2013, they did the same thing in the first round.
The New York Rangers finished the regular NHL season with 114 points and a record of 55-23-4. This set a franchise record for the team, and their record-breaking season helped them sweep both the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference. Their record against the Capitals this regular season was 2-2-0, however, the Rangers are the clear favorite to sweep Washington in this playoff series.
The Rangers’ Powerful Offense
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The New York Rangers would not be the New York Rangers without their star forward Artemi Panarin, who ended the regular season with 49 goals (5th in NHL) and 71 assists (5th in NHL), totaling 120 points (4th in NHL). Not only does this make him an MVP contender for the league (He was named MVP for the Rangers), but a dangerous opponent for the Capitals, even their star Alex Ovechkin.
The second offensive line of Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere has been electric for New York all season long. The team’s 5-on-5 play has seen some struggles throughout the season, however, this line has arguably been the most consistent and most productive at even strength. The line had the most even-strength goals in the NHL this regular season, and there is no doubt it’ll continue to produce quality offense for the Rangers.
The Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere Effect
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The second line not only consists of two of the highest-scoring players on the team, but Coach Laviolette has crafted the line to fit Alexis Lafreniere, a player who needed serious development after last season.
Alexis Lafreniere’s breakout season has been a great part of what makes this season’s Rangers team so remarkable. With 28 goals in the regular season, he is third in goals for the New York Rangers. Finishing the regular season with 57 points, he set career-highs for himself throughout the season, an effort that can be attributed to fitting comfortably on that second line with Panarin and Trocheck
Vincent Trocheck is by far the best man on the roster when it comes to taking face-offs. Winning 58.7% of them, he is a great asset when it comes to making sure the Rangers get and maintain puck possession, and he’s good at shooting the puck as well. With 25 goals, 52 assists, and 77 points in the regular season, working in tandem with Panarin to get pucks to the net has been the Rangers’ superpower.
Rempe-Mania
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It’s impossible to talk about the New York Rangers without mentioning the player who made headlines throughout the second half of the season: Matt Rempe. Instantly captivating the hockey community with his larger-than-life stature and physicality, Rempe has surely put all eyes on New York. Consequently, fans are excited to see if he will take on a physical and gritty Washington Capitals team to kick off the playoffs.
He’s not just a fighting machine, however. Rempe has provided depth in the Rangers’ offensive lineup by not only keeping the puck in the offensive zone and New York’s possession but also making defensive plays that prove to be crucial for the team.
However, this is the question on everyone’s minds: Will there be a line brawl on the Madison Square Garden ice once again this Sunday? Only time will tell.
What the Washington Capitals Bring to the Ice
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There is certainly a history between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. A particularly physical one, at that. Forward Tom Wilson is notorious for challenging opposing linemates with his grit and intimidating presence, albeit in controversial manners sometimes. Wilson led the team in penalty minutes this season with 133.
Forward Matt Rempe of the New York Rangers has stated his praise for Wilson and his playing style and recalls seeing him as an inspiration growing up as a young hockey player.
All eyes are on the offensive matchup of Alex Ovechkin and Artemi Panarin. Ovechkin scored 31 goals and 34 assists this regular season totaling 65 points, putting him second under Dylan Strome with 67, another great player on the Capitals roster. Ovechkin scored two goals in his past five games, while Panarin scored four.
Ovechkin on the top line and Strome on the second make the Capitals’ top-six offense a strong one, and one that will be put to the test against the Rangers’ top six. Washington’s top offense and goaltending will by far be their most competitive aspect in this first round. Nevertheless, their gritty playing style and physical history with the New York Rangers will make this a series to keep an eye on.
An Unexpected —Yet Deserved— Postseason Appearance
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The Caps and their fans alike were not expecting to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year until they decided to make a strong push in recent games. There are holes in the Capitals’ defensive core, with Rasmus Sandin and Nick Jensen out with upper-body injuries suffered late in the regular season. Although they have resumed skating with the team, their statuses for the playoffs are still in question.
They were sellers at the trade deadline, parting ways with forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha, and defenseman Joel Edmunson. This made it clear that the team was trending towards a rebuilding year.
Not so fast. Despite their injuries and loss of key players, this Washington team is still healthy and strong and made a point that they deserve to be where they are right now.
Shaking Off That Goal Differential
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The Washington Capitals boasted an atrocious goal-differential throughout the entire regular NHL season, finishing with a minus 37 — the worst among the teams who made the playoffs. By comparison, the team they are facing off in the first round, the New York Rangers, ended the season with a plus 53.
This was another example of why everyone was surprised this team managed to make a run to the playoffs and ultimately clinch a spot. It was also another signifier of a team that needed serious rebuilding. But they made it anyway.
With their grit and determination, the gloomy goal differential is not going to get in their way as they continue this momentum into the postseason. Let’s just hope they score more goals than they let in this time around.
Charlie Lindgren Taking Control
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We love a good ol’ sibling rivalry. Especially when it consists of two of the strongest assets for each opposing team. Prolific defenseman Ryan Lindgren for the New York Rangers and his older brother, star goaltender Charlie Lindgren for the Washington Capitals will be meeting under the same roof once again and going head-to-head in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Charlie Lindgren stepped in as the starting goalie for the Washington Capitals midway through the season when his .911 save percentage proved to be more favorable than Darcy Kuemper’s .890. His record for the season ended at 25-16-7, and he finished the season with a 2.67 goals-against average. Not too bad for 50 games played—his career high.
The matchup against Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin is going to be one for the books. Shesterkin ended the season with a save percentage of .913 and a 2.58 goals-against average. According to the numbers, they seem to be playing at a very similar caliber. We should get ready to see some amazing saves on both ends of the ice.
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About the Author
River Caraballo (she/they) is a hockey writer for Total Apex Sports. She is a big fan of the New York Rangers and the Minnesota Wild, despite being based in Connecticut. They are the host of a weekly podcast and radio show, Round the Rink, where they talk hockey from the NHL to the PWHL and college hockey. You can follow River on Twitter/X to keep up with her sports content.
