The Examiner’s Brian McNally breaks down the Capitals-Rangers playoff series elsewhere. But we also stole some of his insight into the Capitals:
5. D John Erskine » He’s an excellent antidote to what the Rangers have. They have big bodies and like to crowd around the crease, but Erskine and Scott Hannan both offer a rugged counter. Erskine has played well this season.
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4. F Alex Ovechkin » In four games vs. New York this season, he managed zero goals and two assists. In the 2009 playoffs vs. the Rangers, Ovechkin recorded seven points. But Rangers defensemen Marc Staal and Dan Girardi will make life tough for him this series. Ovechkin must fight the desire to do too much as he sometimes did last postseason.
3. C Jason Arnott » At 6-foot-5, the center has the size to match up with the physical Rangers. He’s also played in 106 postseason games and won’t be fazed by anything. He’s a strong leader, and the Caps could use that in the postseason.
2. F Alexander Semin » The Capitals say he didn’t play that poorly vs. Montreal last season. But the bottom line is this: He attempted 44 shots and didn’t score. In fact, he hasn’t scored in Washington’s last 14 playoff games. A guy who is paid to score must … score.
1. D Mike Green » He hasn’t played since Feb. 25, but he will need to step in and play at a pretty high level. Can he? He hasn’t done so the past two postseasons. But with defenseman Dennis Wideman out with a leg injury, the depth that Washington had on the back end is lost. Green needs to respond.
