Rangers unanimous choice over Capitals in 1st-round staff predictions
When the puck drops on their first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sunday, there’s no question the New York Rangers will be major favorites to defeat and eliminate the Washington Capitals.
As long-time Rangers broadcaster Kenny Albert told Forever Blueshirts this week, “I really don’t think they have any holes.”
Indeed, it’s difficult not to like the Blueshirts odds to knock off the Capitals in the first round. This series pits a team that was atop its division in almost wire-to-wire fashion this season and established franchise records for most wins (55) and points (114) against one that punched its postseason ticket in its final game of the season.
Of course, it’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs, anything can happen. Which it did last season when the Florida Panthers knocked out the Boston Bruins, who set an NHL record with 135 points in the 2022-23 regular season.
Related: Rangers vs. Capitals schedule, results, TV info for 1st-round playoff series
Forever Blueshirts staff predictions for Rangers, 1st-round series, Stanley Cup
With the Stanley Cup Playoffs set to commence this weekend, let’s see how Forever Blueshirts staff members predict the outcomes of the Rangers-Capitals series and the other seven postseason series, as well as which team will win the Stanley Cup in 2024.
Jim Cerny, Executive Editor
I’ve been covering the Stanley Cup Playoffs for over 30 years (yes, I’m old!), so nothing is ever a certainty. But this series should be as close to a sure thing as you can get. The Rangers are superior in every facet of the game and have proven to be as mentally tough as any team in the League this season. They are deep and can beat you in many different ways. Charlie Lindgren may keep some of the scores close in this series, but the Rangers should overwhelm the Caps. Rangers defeat Capitals in 5.
Hurricanes defeat Islanders in 6
Panthers defeat Lightning in 6
Maple Leafs defeat Bruins in 6
Stars defeat Golden Knights in 6
Predators defeat Canucks in 7
Jets defeat Avalanche in 7
Oilers defeat Kings in 5
Stanley Cup Final: Stars defeat Rangers in 6
Anthony Scultore, Founder
What everyone needs to stop doing is comparing the Rangers to the 2023 Bruins because the Capitals are not last year’s Panthers, who were Presidents’ Trophy winners the season before. Florida was learning a new system under coach Paul Maurice and it came together in the 2023 postseason. Meanwhile, the Capitals have the worst goal differential (-37) of all playoff teams and the Rangers have the third-best in the East (+53). Silly talk of jinxes aside, the Rangers should sweep the Caps. Rangers defeat Capitals in 4.
Hurricanes over Islanders in 6
Panthers over Lightning in 7
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 7
Golden Knights over Stars in 7
Predators over Canucks in 6
Avalanche over Jets in 6
Oilers over Kings in 5
Stanley Cup Final: No Cup winner prediction from me … I’m not jinxing it!
Related: Wolf Pack candidates to bolster Rangers playoff roster
Conor Armstrong, Staff Writer
The Rangers will win this series because of the chip they have carried on their shoulder all season long. The players, especially Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba have been open about how they were embarrassed by the New Jersey Devils in the 2023 playoffs. Now that playoff time has come around once again, the Rangers believe they have something to prove, not only to the League, but to themselves. Rangers defeat Capitals in 5.
Hurricanes over Islanders in 7
Lightning over Panthers in 7
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 6
Stars over Golden Knights in 6
Avalanche over Jets in 6
Canucks over Predators in 6
Kings over Oilers in 7
Stanley Cup Final: Rangers over Canucks in 7
Matt Calamia, Staff Writer
I still ask myself how the Rangers lost to the Ottawa Senators in 2017. New York’s squad was better in nearly every category than its opponent, yet somehow lost that series in six games. That loss wouldn’t even be in the same galaxy if the Rangers somehow were eliminated by the Capitals this season. The Rangers, quite simply, are in a different league than the Capitals. Rangers defeat Capitals in 5.
Hurricanes defeat Islanders in 5
Maple Leafs defeat Bruins in 7
Lightning defeat Panthers in 6
Stars defeat Golden Knights in 6
Avalanche defeat Jets in 7
Predators defeat Canucks in 6
Oilers defeat Kings in 6
Stanley Cup Final: Hurricanes defeat Oilers in 7
Related: Rangers vs. Capitals history in Stanley Cup Playoffs
Benjamin Lefkowitz, Staff Writer
Alex Ovechkin and Co. enter the “Rempire” State Building to face the winners of the Presidents’ Trophy. The storied past playoff history of these two division rivals will not repeat itself in this series. Charlie Lingren may be able to steal a game for the Caps, but in the end there will be no brotherly love as Ryan Lindgren and his Blueshirts teammates will prevail. From top to bottom the Rangers depth will overwhelm a Capitals team that just sneaked into the playoffs. Rangers over Caps in 5.
Hurricanes over Islanders in 6
Panthers over Lightning in 7
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 7
Golden Knights over Stars in 7
Avalanche over Jets in 7
Canucks over Predators in 6
Oilers over Kings in 6
Stanley Cup Final: Rangers over Avalanche in 7
Chris Savino, Staff Writer
While I wanted the Rangers to clinch the President’s trophy to secure home ice, I knew this would mean their first-round opponent would be a hungry wild-card team. So, the Capitals it is, and it’s not going to be so easy for the Blueshirts. The Caps finished the season with an astonishing -37 goal differential, having many on social media counting them out as the worst team to clinch a playoff spot this season. But a motivated Alex Ovechkin, who has been red-hot since the turn of the new year, is a concern, as is a potential brick wall in Charlie Lindgren, who may have something to prove to his brother Ryan on the other side of the ice. All of this being said, the Rangers showed tremendous mental toughness throughout this unique season and will win this series. Rangers defeat Caps in 5.
Islanders over Hurricanes in 6
Lightning over Panthers in 6
Bruins over Maple Leafs in 7
Stars over Golden Knights in 6
Jets over Avalanche in 6
Canucks over Predators in 5
Oilers over Kings in 5
Stanley Cup Final: Rangers over Stars in 6
Dane Walsh, Staff Writer
I truly believe that the New York Rangers should have no issues with the Washington Capitals. Maybe Charlie Lindgren stays hot and steals a game or two, but when you look at the depth of each team, it is New York by a landslide. Mika Zibanejad is fourth in scoring among Rangers forwards, yet would be the leading scorer with the Capitals. Defense is better, goaltending is better. I think the Rangers win with ease. Rangers defeat Capitals in 5.
Hurricanes over Islanders in 5
Panthers over Lightning in 6
Maple Leafs over Bruins in 7
Stars over Golden Knights in 7
Jets over Avalanche in 7
Canucks over Predators in 6
Oilers over Kings in 6
Stanley Cup Final: Rangers over Canucks in 6
More About:New York Rangers Analysis