The New York Rangers visit the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals match-up starting at 7:30 p.m. The series is tied 2-2. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: MSG; Radio: ESPN Radio (98.7 FM), XM 212

Live Stream (Don't click on ads in stream, may download virus):
http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/185847/1/watch-washington-capitals-vs-new-york-rangers.html

Probable Lines:
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan
Nash-Richards-Zuccarello
Dorsett-Brassard-Clowe
Pyatt-Boyle-Asham

McDonagh-Girardi
Del Zotto-Stralman
Eminger-Moore

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 2-2, 2.44 gaa, .929 sv%, 0 so.

Braden Holtby - 2-2, 2.20 gaa, .927 sv%, 1 so

Opponent Notes:
- Mathieu Perreault (1g, 3a) and Mike Green (2g, 2a) lead the Capitals in points with four.

A lot of you have been asking about the start time of Game 6 on Sunday, well the NHL has announced two possible times...

The National Hockey League announced today two scheduling scenarios for the potential Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Quarterfinal round schedule on Sunday, May 12.

The scenarios are dependent on the outcome of tonight's Game 5 in the series between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs.

SUNDAY'S START TIMES IF TORONTO WINS GAME 5 TONIGHT

4:30 p.m. ET Washington Capitals at New York Rangers Game 6

7 p.m. ET New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins Game 7*

7:30 p.m. ET Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs Game 6

10 p.m. ET Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks Game 7*

SUNDAY'S START TIMES IF BOSTON WINS GAME 5 TONIGHT

7 p.m. ET New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins Game 7*

7:30 p.m. ET Washington Capitals at New York Rangers Game 6

10 p.m. ET Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks Game 7*

* = if necessary

...Happy Mother's Day!

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Update, 2:36 p.m.:
Here's video of Staal's post practice interview...

To watch at Blueshirts United, click here.

Original Post:
While it's great to hear that Marc Staal was back on the ice this morning, that's pretty much where the good news ends as far as his return from an eye injury.

After announcing that he will not play in Game 5 tonight he added this about what went into his decision to pull himself from Game 4 (via NHL.com)...

"On the ice it didn't go particularly well, and as the day went on I just couldn't see myself getting into a game situation. It's tough. You get excited to get in that one [Game 3] and have to sit and watch the next [Game 4]. It's certainly not easy."

He added this about his status for the remainder of the series...

Through four games, the two biggest superstars in the Rangers/Capitals first round series have combined for ONE goal. To show how insane that is, Rick Nash and Alex Ovechkin have combined for 681 career goals!

So what are the two teams doing defensively to shut these guys down?

Pat Leonard at the Daily News notes that Capitals coach Adam Oates has called for double-teams and defensive collapses from his forwards on Nash, who is already being checked by Washington defenseman John Carlson or whoever else is on the assignment depending on which wing Nash has occupied.

Here's Nash on the Capitals strategy...

"It seems like they're closing down on me. I usually get a lot of space coming off the wall, but they're really using that winger to come down and block it. So I've just got to move (the puck) more and work for my space."

Meanwhile, Dan Rosen at NHL.com says besides constant pressure from Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh, the Rangers forecheck has led to Ovechkin's lack of scoring...

I received some insider info from my brother (@WrabelWrage) regarding NHL 13 and their current roster update which came out yesterday for Xbox 360. After the download is finished, you're left with 2 defenseman that aren't your first options for different reasons. 

NHL 13 doesn't give the Rangers John Moore and actually takes away Anton Stralman (some might be OK with this move), leaving you with Roman Hamrlik and Michael Sauer as essentially your bottom defense pairing. One is a non-existent traffic cone and the other hasn't played a game since December 5, 2011 because of a concussion.

Nice job, NHL 13.

Follow on Twitter @TheWrage. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Not sure about you guys but this t-shirt I spotted at the Sunrise Mall in Massapequa yesterday pretty much sums up my life when the Rangers are in the playoffs...

...my wife is pretty much ready to divorce me at this time of year. lol

Speaking of t-shirts, my boys over at We Bleed Blue pretty much nailed it with this one...

Yesterday, Brian Boyle was a guest on the Michael Kay Radio Show (ESPN Radio) and discussed the Rangers current series against the Capitals, John Tortorella and an apparent elbow injury last year...

Upload MP3 and download MP3 using free MP3 hosting from Tindeck.

To listen at ESPN Radio website, click here.

...i really do love listening to these guys on the radio. So much more candid than post game. Not full of clichés.

Bergen Record - Rangers hoping for Rick Nash to start scoring goals

Bergen Record - Rangers' defense taking care of Ovechkin

Bergen Record - Rangers' three keys to Game 5

New York Post - Time’s now for Rangers’ big gun to start scoring

New York Post - Power play, penalty kill key for Blueshirts

New York Post - Staal’s status for Game 5 remains in doubt

Daily News - Ranger Rick lacking zip in playoffs

New York Times - Rangers’ Game Plan? Swarm Ovechkin

Newsday - Nash has been quiet so far in playoffs

Newsday - Capitals hoping for some home cooking

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According to NHL.com, Washington's Martin Era will miss Game 5 with an wrist injury he suffered when Alex Ovechkin launched himself at Derek Stepan and caught his teammate with the penalized charge.

While head coach Adam Oates has not announced who will replace Erat, the Capitals have called up forwards Joey Crabb and Tom Wilson from the American Hockey League for tomorrow's game.

Also of note, former Ranger Wojtek Wolski, who has been a healthy scratch for the Capitals since April 11th, is also an option.

John Tortorella infamously announced that the Rangers couldn't get the injury prone Wolski "out of the tub" and back in the line-up back in 2011.

A day after pulling himself from the Game 4 line-up, Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record reports that Marc Staal did not participate in the Rangers optional practice today making his status very much in doubt for tomorrow's Game 5.

Gross adds that John Tortorella was not happy to hear Ryan McDonagh discussed Marc Staal's reasoning for not playing last night.

...i find it very hard to believe he'll be back in the line-up tomorrow.

...also, with him not even able to skate during an optional, i'm very concerned that he might have suffered a significant setback.

...was very surprised that McD talked Staal's injury last night. Assuming after Torts gets a hold of him we'll never hear it discussed again.

According to Pat Leonard at the Daily News Ryane Clowe skated today.

...always nice to see a guy practice the day after returning from an injury. Usually a good sign that there's no setbacks.

...thought Clowe brought a physical element that had been lacking from the Rangers the first three games. I think it helped rally this team to easily their best performance of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Steve Zipay at Newsday reports that Chris Kreider and Kris Newbury skated with the team today and will likely travel to Washington for tomorrow's game.