New York Rangers aim to oust Washington Capitals in Game 6 -NHL Playoffs Preview
New York Rangers know that if they cannot eliminate Washington Capitals in Game 6 of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, it will be extremely hard when the situation comes down to Game 7.
Washington has become accustomed to last minute rebounds and they themselves are telling New York that if they want it than Game 6 is the time to do it or else Game 7 is their own.
"Everyone's realizing that: Let's just get it out of our heads now. Let's just focus on what we need to focus on," Washington’s defenseman, John Carlson, said. "That stuff happens. It's no one's fault. There's no one to blame."
Game 5 was a disappointment for Washington as they were certainly going to win the match had not they given a late power play advantage to the Rangers and could have been heading back home to eliminate New York.
Joel Ward struck Carl Hagelin’s face with his stick late in the third, forcing the referee’s to give him a four minute double minor penalty in which Rangers scored not only the late equaliser to force overtime but the OT game-winner as well.
Washington definitely has the statistics backing them to rebound in Game 6 as their rookie goalie, Braden Holtby, has not lost two consecutive matchups ever since he started Game 1 of the quarterfinals against Ottawa Senators.
"We control our emotions a little better. I mean, even when we win, we're not bouncing off the ceiling. It's more of a business atmosphere. And when we lose, we know we can bounce back," Brooks Laich said. "I mean, we have a very good hockey team. We never
get too high, never get too low. We stay pretty composed."
Scoring the opening goal and maintaining a lead in Game 6 would be the only way to go if Washington is looking towards winning and heading into a Game 7 competition.
Game 6 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at the Verizon Center in Washington, District of Columbia, at 7:30 PM ET, which will definitely give Capitals the needed advantage of playing at home.
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