Rangers End Season On High Note; Beat Flyers 4-3

Quick Hits:

- It's always good for a team's morale and confidence to end the season with a win, especially when it takes two 3rd period goals (a rarity lately) to overcome a deficit and get the win. Tortorella has got his team ready for the playoffs.

- Speaking of morale, what better time for Brandon Dubinsky to pot 2 goals. It's kind of ironic the youngster, entrenched in the typical "sophomore slump," ended the season with an unlucky 13 goals.

- Sean Avery and Blair Betts (WHAT?) were the players who put 2 to the twine in the final frame. A welcomed sign.

- Jofferey Lupul better hope Sean Avery has a short memory for his late game cheap shot. Not only was it unsportsmanlike but it could have proved costly had Avery been injured.

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Now, the Rangers will prepare for their 1st round playoff match-up with the Capitals, a team NYR hasn't faced in the playoffs since 1994. However, these ain't your daddy's Capitals team. New York sported a 1-2-1 record against them in the regular season, including a 5-4 OT loss back on Christmas eve; a game the Rangers had a 4-0 lead in. Suffice to say; Washington is dangerous with Ovechkin, Mike Green, Alex Semin, etc. However, I think Washington can be had and heres why:

1) GOALTENDING....we all know it's goal tending and defense that wins Stanley cups and Jose Theodore is no Henrik Lundqvist. NYR has the advantage in between the pipes and it will take some miracle working on Theodore's part to keep Washington close. That, and Ovechkin scoring a hat trick a game.

2) I'll give the edge in defense to the Rangers as well. NYR starting 6 D play a more systematic, team-first game than Washington's D. But, Mike Green scares me, and will be a factor in this series. The Rangers will need to contain him if they have any hopes of making it out alive in the 1st round.

3) The Capitals get the edge in offense and will give the Rangers fits. They come at you with different weapons up and down the line-up. The Rangers lack of a true sniper will be felt here so it'll be crucial for someone to step up (Zherdev anyone?)

Prediction: Rangers in 6. I cant get past Washington's mediocre goal tending. It'll be their downfall.

1st game is Wednesday in D.C. 7pm.


Until then...

J.W.