Morning Skate: May 2

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s results:

Devils 4, Flyers 1

RLD 3 stars of the night:

1. David Clarkson (goal)

2. Adam Larsson (goal)

3. Travis Zajac (goal)

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Tonight’s slate:

Rangers @ Capitals, 7:30 ET, Game 3
Coyotes @ Predators, 9:00, Game 3

#1 New York Rangers @ #7 Washington Capitals

Game 3… 7:30 ET… TV: NBC Sports Network, CBC

Series: Tied 1-1

Projected starting goaltenders:

NYR-    Henrik Lundqvist (Playoff stats: 5-4, 1.77 GAA)

WAS-    Braden Holtby (Playoff stats: 5-4, 2.12 GAA)

Injury report:

NYR-    Mats Zuccarello (wrist, out), Michael Sauer (concussion, out), Brandon Dubinsky (lower body, out)

WAS-   Tomas Vokoun and Tom Poti (groin, out)

Game thoughts:

Following a dramatic Game 2 finish, the Capitals return home to host Game 3. And with their return to home ice comes a chance to take a lead in the series. Can the Caps outplay the Rangers for the second game in a row?


Game 2 was a good example of how the Caps want to play. They took an early lead, and for the most part sat back on it. A little more discipline and an emphasis on physical play would have made their most recent victory a bit easier but the team came out victorious regardless. Tonight, they will need to be a little tighter in order to take a series lead. 

Prediction: Caps 4, Rangers 3 (OT)

#3 Phoenix Coyotes @ #4 Nashville Predators

Game 3… 9:00 ET… TV: CNBC, TSN

Series: 2-0 Coyotes

Projected starting goaltenders:

PHO-    Mike Smith (Playoff stats: 6-2, 2.03 GAA)

NAS-    Pekka Rinne (Playoff stats: 4-3, 2.51 GAA)

Injury report:

PHO-    Lauri Korpikoski (lower-body, day-to-day), Michal Rozsival (upper-body, day-to-day), Raffi Torres (between the ears, out)

NAS-    None

Game thoughts:

Big news out of Predators camp yesterday as the team traveled back to Smashville. Due to an infringement of team rules, both Andrei Kostitsyn and Alexander Radulov would be suspended for Game 3, and possibly longer, for violating team rules. Can the Preds overcome a 2-0 series deficit without these offensive stars?

Over the first two games, the Predators struggled with their identity. In essence, instead of playing their game, they allowed the Coyotes to dictate their defense-first style which put them in a big hole. Nevertheless, Barry Trotz and company define the word resilient and should be able to make a series out of this matchup. 
Prediction: Predators 3, Coyotes 1

Video of the day:

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