Rangers look for rare playoff sweep against Capitals

It’s been a long time since the New York Rangers have swept an opponent in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. On Sunday, they have a chance to do so against the Washington Capitals in D.C. after most recently taking down the Atlanta Thrashers way back in 2007.

Matter of fact, this is just the sixth time the Rangers have ever taken a 3-0 lead in a series (1950 Semifinals vs Montreal, 1972 Semifinals vs Chicago, 1994 Quarterfinals vs NYI, 1994 Semifinals vs Washington, 2007 Quarterfinals vs Atlanta).

New York is in this position thanks to the spectacular goaltending of Igor Shesterkin, who put in his best performance of the playoffs to date on Friday. In Game 3, he turned aside 28 of 29 shots and almost scored an empty-net goal in the 3-1 road victory.

“I had energy, for sure,” center Vincent Trocheck quipped . “I would’ve cellied like it was ’94!”

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Rangers’ rookie Matt Rempe after he knocked out Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk with a bombastic blast in Game 3. Washington’s Nic Dowd called it “dirty” and Tom Wilson wanted to fight the 6-foot-8 behemoth, but was turned down.

“I thought it was a clean hit,” Rempe said . “I just went through the body. You never want anyone to get hurt, and I’m sorry to hear about that. I was just trying to play hard, move my feet, and be physical.”

Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery has already announced van Riemsdyk will miss Game 4. That’s massive blow for the Capitals, who lose another regular defenseman. They’ve played the first three games without Rasmus Sandin and Nick Jensen, and lost Vincent Iorio to an upper-body injury in Game 1 after an Alexis Lafreniere check.

Here’s today’s game and broadcast info:

New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals (GAME 4)
Date/Time: April 28, 2024 @ 8:00 PM ET
Arena: Capital One Arena
TV: MSG, TBS
Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Series: 3-0 NYR

Note: Subject to change, updated for each game

Related: Capitals find out what happens when you push around Panarin

New York Rangers projected lineup

Here’s the expected lineup:

Kreider – Zibanejad – Roslovic
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Wennberg – Kakko
Vesey – Goodrow – Rempe

Lindgren – Fox
Gustafsson – Trouba
Miller – Schneider

Shesterkin
Quick

Note: The Rangers will hold a morning skate at 11:30 A.M. ET. Coach Peter Laviolette will address the media afterwards. Check back here for updates.

New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals (Round 1)

Rangers leading playoff scorers:

Goals – Kreider (2), Trocheck (2)
Assists – Zibanejad (4)
Points – Zibanejad (5), Trocheck (5)

Rangers playoff goalie stats:

Igor Shesterkin: 3-0, 1.67 GAA, .933 SV%

Notes:

This is the 10th time the Rangers have played the Capitals in the playoffs, holding a 5-4 series edge.

The Rangers three playoffs goals in 2:06 in Game 1 against the Capitals was the third-fastest in franchise history. In the 1986 Division Semifinals, they notched three in 0:38 against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3.

Rempe became the first Rangers’ player to score a goal in his NHL Playoffs debut since defenseman Matt Gilroy scored in Game 1 of the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals against the Capitals.

The Rangers have goals from nine different players and eight players have two or more points in the series.

In the past 10 years, the Rangers are just the third Presidents’ Trophy winner to take a 3-0 lead in the first round (Washington 2016, lost in Round 2 and Colorado 2021, lost in Round 2).

Upcoming Rangers Milestones

• Chris Kreider needs 1 point to surpass Rod Gilbert (67) for sole possession of third in Rangers’ playoff scoring history

More must-reads:

• Rangers finish off 1st-round sweep with 4-2 win against Capitals
• Rangers 3 keys for Game 4 of playoff series against Capitals
• Rangers 1 win away from sweep after 3-1 Game 3 victory against Capitals

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