Gameday: vs. NY Rangers, Apr. 15 - Round One, Game Two

Karl Alzner eats a shot late in game one.

The Washington Capitals will welcome the New York Rangers to Verizon Center tonight for game two of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series.  The Capitals hold a 1-0 lead in the series, having won game one, 2-1, deep into the first overtime period on Wednesday night. Alexander Semin scored the game-winning goal for Washington in a physical, fast-paced game.  Tonight is a big game for both teams, as the Capitals will look to hold home-ice advantage while the Rangers will look to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole in the series before it heads to Madison Square Garden over the weekend.

John Tortorella will roll with Henrik Lundqvist in nets for the twenty-eighth consecutive game tonight.  Lundqvist was superb on Wednesday, making 31 saves and playing very well early to prevent the Caps from taking an early lead. On the injury front, the Rangers are still without alternate captain Ryan Callahan, who it out with a broken ankle.  Steve Eminger and Sean Avery, both healthy scratches in game one, are expected to remain so tonight.

For the Capitals, Michal Neuvirth will get the nod in nets for the second game in a row.  In game one he turned in an admirable performance for a playoff debut, making 24 saves, many of them huge, for the win.  Outside of the crease, Bruce Boudreau is expected to keep the same lineup from his game one victory, which means that DJ King, Jay Beagle, Tyler Sloan, Sean Collins, and Eric Fehr will all be scratched, although Boudreau may give Fehr a chance in Jason Chimera's spot.  Tom Poti and Dennis Wideman remain out with a groin injury and hematoma, respectively.

Puck drops for this one 7:38-ish.  Check back for updates from the morning skates of both teams later this morning.