The New York Rangers have outlasted the stingy Washington Capitals in game 7 to win the Eastern Conference Semi Finals. The Rangers ended up winning 2-1 in regulation. That series was definitely a battle between the rookie goaltender and the veteran but experience won in the end as Henrik Lundqvist outlasted the rookie Braden Holtby to win the series. Holtby was phenomenal throughout the series and I am sure we will be seeing a lot more from Braden Holtby in the future.
The Rangers are the last “Original Six” team left in the playoffs this year. The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t even make the playoffs and the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings were all eliminated in the first round. The Rangers haven’t had an easy road getting this far. They went to game 7 in the first round against the Ottawa Senators and then again in the second round against the Washington Capitals.
New York will now have to face their rivals the New Jersey Devils as they battle in the Eastern Conference Final. The Devils eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1. The Rangers will have their hands full as they try to solve the Devils strong defense. Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur who just recently turned 40 will have to face 30 year old Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. This is going to be a great series against these two rivals and the winner will go on to play for the Stanley Cup.
Here’s a look at just how heated this rivalry really is:
