Just a few days ago, the Washington Capitals had a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series against the New York Rangers. After Sunday’s game, however, they will have to win a decisive Game Seven in New York with the Rangers winning Game Six 4-3 to force a final game.
With the Capitals up three games to one earlier in the week, a top ice hockey tipster knew that the Rangers still had some fight in them, but it would have been very hard to predict New York responding to such an adverse situation the way they have in games five and six.
New York took the lead less than one minute into the game, as Chris Kreider skated past the Washington defense to put the Rangers ahead on the road. With less than one second to play in the first period, New York doubled their lead with a second goal from Kreider, whose fifth of this postseason sent the Rangers into the first intermission with a huge lead.
Washington managed to draw a goal back early in the second period, as Jason Chimera put a rebounded effort home, as New York goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist was unable to secure the puck in a rare mistake on his part. At the end of two periods of play, the Rangers had a 2-1 lead, which they would extend in the third period.
In the third and final period of play, Rick Nash and Dan Boyle both scored goals within the first five minutes for New York to give them a 4-1 advantage. And while Washington managed to score twice in the final 15 minutes of the game, that wasn’t good enough to prevent the Rangers from claiming this game and setting up a decisive
Game Seven at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Top ice hockey betting experts can attest to the importance of home ice advantage, which the Rangers will have in the seventh and final game of this series. Heading into the playoffs, New York had 25 wins at home on the year, which was the third most in the Eastern Conference behind just Montreal and Tampa Bay, who are playing in the other Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Meanwhile, Washington’s 22 road wins on the season were good for the third highest total in the Eastern
Conference as well. With a star player like Alexander Ovechkin and a rock solid goalkeeper like Braden Holtby, top tipsters know that the Capitals are not to be counted out here. With that said, the Rangers have the advantage at home and with the momentum of two straight victories on their side.
Game Seven between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals will take place on Wednesday, May 13. The winner of that game will face the winner of the series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Finals. Currently, Tampa Bay leads Montreal by three games to two, and can close that series out on Tuesday, May 12 in Tampa Bay.