Gameday: vs. NY Rangers, Apr. 13 - Round One, Game One

Michal Neuvirth gets the call in nets for the Caps tonight.

The Washington Capitals will begin their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup tonight when they take on the New York Rangers inside Verizon Center.  The Capitals finished the regular season with 107 points, winning the Southeast Division and finishing first in the Eastern Conference for the second year in a row.  The Rangers finished with 93 points, placing them eighth in the Conference and third in the Atlantic Division, and won the season series with a 2-1-1 record.  But none of that matters now.  This is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and this is where it all begins again.  Tonight is game one of a best-of-seven series.

For the Rangers, John Tortorella will give the call in goal to Henrik Lundqvist, who will be starting his 27th consecutive game for the Blueshirts.  Lundqvist had an outstanding season, finishing the year with 36 wins, a 2.28 GAA, .923 Save%, and 11 shutouts in 68 games.  Two of those shutouts came against the Caps. On the injury front, the Rangers will be without right winger and alternate captain Ryan Callahan, who broke his ankle in the final week of the season.  Healthy scratches will not be announced until later this morning.

Michal Neuvirth will get the start in goal for the Capitals, his first NHL postseason nod.  Neuvirth had a good season for the Caps, winning 27 games to go along with a 2.45 GAA, a .914 Save%, and four shutouts, which led all rookie goaltenders.  Outside the crease, it is expected that Mike Green will play his first hockey in almost two months, and will make his return from a concussion, though Bruce Boudreau is calling him a "game-time decision."  If he returns, he will push Sean Collins to the press box.  Tom Poti and Dennis Wideman will both be missing from the lineup on the back end with a groin injury and hematoma, respectively.  DJ King, Jay Beagle, and Eric Fehr are the likely healthy scratches up front for Washington.

Puck drops 7:40-ish.  Check back for updates on both teams from the morning skate later today.