The New York Rangers completed a sweep over the Washington Capitals, relying on goaltending and special teams while struggling with 5v5 play. The Rangers' ability to excel on the powerplay and in net was crucial, as their performance at 5v5 was just "good enough." Despite facing dominating stretches from the Caps, the Rangers managed to secure a series win.

By the Numbers
  • Rangers maintained a 45% xG share at 5v5 but had a 58% goal-share for the series.
  • Rangers scored 6 powerplay goals in 24:30 PP TOI, emphasizing the importance of special teams in their success.
Yes, But

Rangers struggled with sustaining offensive momentum at 5v5 as the series progressed, highlighting the need for improvement in this area.

State of Play
  • Rangers dominated on special teams, scoring 6 powerplay goals and 2 shorthanded goals while showcasing strong penalty killing.
  • Despite some deficiencies at 5v5, the Rangers managed to secure a series win over the Capitals, setting up a challenging matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes.
What's Next

The Rangers need to elevate their 5v5 performance and maintain their success on special teams as they prepare to face the formidable Carolina Hurricanes in the next round.

Bottom Line

Although the Rangers excelled on special teams and in goal, there is room for improvement at 5v5 play to enhance their overall performance in the upcoming playoff rounds.