Bergen Record - NHL playoffs: These are not same old Caps

Bergen Record - Rangers-Capitals skinny

New York Post - New blood does Rangers good

New York Post - Power Plays

New York Post -  Rangers Capitals Matchups

New York Post - Playoffs open with Rangers needing to play disciplined

New York Post - Restless Ovechkin ready to go

Daily News - News breaks down Rangers - Capitals series

Daily News - Rangers' McDonagh once again will battle 'The Great 8'

New York Times - Turned Loose, Ovechkin Once Again Turns Heads

Newsday - Tortorella anxious for Rangers' series to begin

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The Capital team the Rangers will face beginning tomorrow night will look nothing like the team they faced last postseason or even the one that they secured five of six points against earlier this season.

While last year's version of the Capitals under Dale Hunter played a grinding, shot blocking style similar to the Rangers, this year, new head coach Adam Oates has them playing a more up-tempo game that took awhile to click says Katie Carrera at the Washington Post...

"But Washington, under Coach Adam Oates, plays an aggressive, pressure-based style in all three zones that thrives off creating neutral-zone turnovers. The Capitals want to protect their own zone and limit quality chances against their goaltenders, but they’d rather do it by spending time in the offensive zone."

Karl Azner feels that this new style allows the Capitals to maintain that grinding style while also opening up the offense...

Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record reports that despite still not practicing Brian Boyle (right leg) and Ryane Clowe (undisclosed) will travel with the team to Washington.

...while this obviously doesn't mean they're playing in Game 1, they're not, I am encouraged that the Rangers are allowing Clowe to fly as anyone with a severe concussion is usually prohibited from traveling on a plane.

Gross adds that Marc Staal (eye) and Derek Dorsett (broken clavicle), who is still wearing non-contact jersey, will also make the trip, but neither is likely to play. Staal told Pat Leonard at the Daily News this about his status for Game 1 after practice...

 "I'm not gonna ... probably not going to play tomorrow."

...no surprise here. Although, Ovechkin is probably licking his chops knowing Staal won't be in the line-up for at least Game 1. Hopefully, Girardi and McDonagh will remind him that the Rangers have other capable defenseman and Del Zotto will be no where near him.

Henrik Lundqvist returned to practice after being given the day off yesterday to rest.

Here's some post practice video...

Last night, the Edmonton Oil Kings advanced to the WHL Championship Series with 2-0 win over the Calgary Hitmen. Michael St. Croix, (NYR 4th-'11) scored both goals en route to being named MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals.

So far this postseason, St. Croix is 10-12-22 in 16 games to lead all Oil Kings scorers.

St. Croix was recently ranked as the Rangers' 10th best prospect by Hockey's Future.

To make-up for yesterday's pump-up video debacle, here's a gem from the great AJ Castiglia...

...after watching this, I'm officially ready for the playoffs.

H/T to reader Brad C.

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Jeff Klein at the New York Times says that after a fairly calm season from John Tortorella with the press, last year's playoff temperment seems to be rearing its ugly head...

"But while he has been much better this year, he has relapsed on occasion in the last couple of weeks as the Rangers struggled to salvage a disappointing season by clinching a playoff spot. Thursday morning at Carolina, before a game the Rangers needed to win in order to clinch, he said a reporter should “grow up” after the reporter left the scrum. The reporter left because Tortorella refused to answer a question about Marc Staal’s eye injury, saying it was a distraction from that night’s game."

And Tortorella's outbursts apparently continued yesterday when he chastised the press for misrepresenting his relationship with Marian Gaborik.

...while the press loaths playoff Torts, I absolutely love him. I usually give Torts crap for not disclosing injuries during the regular season, but I actually agree with him being tight lipped during the playoffs. In a seven game series you never want to give your opponent any kind of advantage, so I say eff the press if they don't like not getting answers from Torts on injuries and other team matters.

...as long as the Rangers continue to win games in the second season, Tortorella's press conferences can consist of him sitting there giving the press the finger for all I care.

Klein adds that executives at USA Hockey will be real interested in Torts' attitude during the playoffs as a head coaching position could be on the line.

And of course, no angry Torts post would be complete without the "Next Question" remix...

To say Chris Kreider's year has been a disappointment would be an understatement. A player, who most fans thought would chip in around 15 goals this season, was barely able to stay on the NHL roster.

But all that can easy be forgotten with a repeat of last year's playoff performance. And injuries to Ryane Clowe and Brian Boyle will give him that opportunity (via New York Post)...

“You never want to get a chance because of injuries, but I’m excited to have the opportunity. Getting a little more ice time the last couple of games helped me get into the flow.”

Here's Kreider on feeding off of last year's postseason success...

Bergen Record - Rangers: Derek Stepan elevating his play

New York Post - Rangers' Stepan primed for playoff breakthrough

New York Post - New style, old foe for Rangers

Daily News - Rangers' Nash ready for playoff bash

Newsday - One goal changed Stepan's whole season

Newsday - Rangers must avoid penalties vs. Capitals

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Before you watch this video, know that the music chosen is awful, but the video itself is one of the better I've seen, especially starting at the 4:10 mark...

...man, that video could be epic with a better soundtrack.

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Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record reports that Brian Boyle (right leg) and Ryane Clowe (undisclosed) did not practice again today, however, they were both at the Rangers practice facility.

Gross notes that Boyle  still seemed to be walking with a bit of a limp, but Clowe was walking fine, which may further eliminate the possibility of him having a leg injury, as was first suspected.

...as if it wasn't already looking like a concussion. Any chance it was a leg injury, but now it's fully healed? I doubt it also.

Also at practice, Henrik Lundqvist was given the day off to rest, while there were no new updates on Marc Staal (took some shifts with Girardi) or Derek Dorsett.

...well deserved for Lundqvist. Unless of course he was given the day off because he's secretly injured, then my reaction would be AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't worry, he's not.

The Rangers also revealed their new playoff hat during practice (via Rangers Instagram)...