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Top 3 ways Washington Capitals can upset NY Rangers

It's 2-0 New York in the best of seven over Washington with the series shifting back to Capital One Arena for Games 3 and 4 this weekend

By Michael Marzzacco |
Nic Dowd, Washington Capitals
Nic Dowd, Washington Capitals / Patrick Smith/GettyImages
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The Washington Capitals are in an 0-2 series hole dropping the first two games in front of a loud Madison Square Garden. But what the New York Rangers don't know is that they're coming into the most powerful city in the world. It's time to don your red or Screaming Eagle/Capital Dome black jersey and whether you are in the stands or on your couch, they need your support now more than ever.

So how do the Caps get back in this series? Here are 3 ways:

#3 Continue the momentum of the last game's finish

The Capitals pushed hard towards the end. They just need to shoot the puck more. Simple math yes. But what the Caps also did to succeed was crash the net. That's how Connor McMichael was the one to put the Caps ahead and give them their first lead of the series.

It's a tricky puzzle solving the Rangers. Back then it was Henrik Lundqvist. Now it's Igor Shesterkin they have to solve. The Caps though have cracked the Lundqvist code in the past. Perhaps if the Caps do it again we went from the Young Guns doing it to the Whippersnappers and we need those whippernsnappers like McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre to continue to create traffic.

Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals / Bruce Bennett/GettyImages

#2 Serenity prayer

Know it. It's powerful. We aren't incoporating religion we are just a hockey blog but the Caps can't control the way the Rangers play. And it's important that while the Caps SHOULD get physical they should know their limits. Teams don't pick the zebras the NHL does.

Of course there was some questionable calls the other night that should've gone the other way. Of course Aretemi Panarin got away with burglary with what he did with his hands to T.J. Oshie's neck. There will be some retaliation one way or another. But remember to keep your cool while retailing at the same time if you're playing for the Caps and reading this.

Caps fans you have to play a part in this too especially if you're lucky enough to have a ticket to Game 3. There WILL be New Yorkers there. We have to let them know that they have entered the most powerful city in the world. What brings us together 41 nights a year is when we all don red in unision and cheer on our boys.

Our support is what even got the Capitals to the big dance in the first place.

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals / Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

#1 Get Alex Ovechkin going

We all know the numbers. For those that don't, Alex Ovechkin was held without a shot on goal in Game 1 and only had one shot on goal in Game 2. Whatever offensive schemes Spencer Carbery draws up in practice, they have to find a way to get the great eight involved.

Carbery talked about the offensive struggles from Game 1 afterwards via Capitals Insider Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network:

"Entries were a massive issue, as everybody saw. We got to start there before we can even talk about the in zone sequences and what we're looking for. We had a few in zone sequences but not nearly enough for as many power plays as we generated."
Spencer Carbery following Game 1

The offense looked much better in the third period of Game 2 which circles back to key number 3 a couple of slides ago about how the Caps have to continue their momentum. Tom Wilson got going with a goal. He was in front of the net. That's going hard in the paint and creating offense.

If you have a ticket to Friday night's game get there early and be loud as the puck drops at 7 p.m. If you aren't going to Game 3 you can catch the game on Monumental Sports Network with Joe B and Locker on the call or on TNT, Tru TV or MAX. There will be an optional morning skate tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. for the Caps at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

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