After mustering just one goal during a pair of games in the nation's capital, the New York Rangers enjoyed a relative scoring spree in their last outing. The sixth-seeded Rangers will look to continue their offensive surge and even their Eastern Conference first-round series with the Southeast Division champion Washington Capitals on Wednesday, when the teams reconvene for Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. Derek Stepan scored to snap a tie with 6:25 remaining in the third period and Derick Brassard collected a goal and two assists in New York's 4-3 win on Monday.
Stepan said the Rangers are focused on going hard to the net to challenge Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. "Games 1 and 2, we thought sometimes we were good at it, and at times we did not do it nearly enough," Stepan said. "That is something as a team that we are trying to keep focus on, continuing to get pucks and bodies to the net." Defenseman Mike Green has scored in the last two contests for third-seeded Washington.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN, RDS2, CSN (Washington), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS: While New York elected to practice vigorously on Tuesday, Washington embraced a rare day off. "Rest is a weapon. That’s what all the veteran players always say," right wing Eric Fehr said with a smile. "We’re going to take it today, we’re going to watch the video and we’re going to learn from it and we’re going to be better the next game." The video will show six different trips to the penalty box for Washington, as well as a punchless power play which mustered just one shot in three opportunities with the man advantage.
ABOUT THE RANGERS: After defenseman Marc Staal returned in Game 3, New York may see another key cog crack the lineup for Game 4. Rugged Ryane Clowe, who practiced on Tuesday, has not played since April 25 due to an undisclosed injury that is suspected to be a concussion. "If there's an opportunity to play, I'll play. I'm not holding out here and trying to save it. There's nothing to save," Clowe said. "But I don't want to just play a period or a few shifts. If I play, I am in, all in." Clowe recorded three goals and eight points in 12 games after being acquired from San Jose.
OVERTIME
1. Clowe may take the place of C Darroll Powe, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 3. Powe, who didn't practice on Tuesday, sat out the final two periods of Monday's tilt.
2. Washington failed to score on the power play in Game 3 after tallying with the man advantage in each of the first two contests of the series.
3. New York has won its last seven games at Madison Square Garden.