Just over a year ago, the Capitals made a coaching change after missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.
Led by rookie NHL head coach Spencer Carbery, Washington is back in the postseason this year after holding off the Flyers, Red Wings and more for the final spot in the Eastern Conference bracket. As a reward for their strong late-season run, the Capitals will face the coach they let go last season, Peter Laviolette, and the top-seeded Rangers.
New York clinched the Presidents' Trophy in Laviolette's first season at the helm, going 55-23-4, but regular-season success won't satisfy Rangers fans desperate to end a 30-year Stanley Cup drought.
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Though the Rangers will be clear favorites entering the first round, playoff series between Washington and New York have tended to be tight affairs. They met five times in seven years between 2009 and 2015, their last postseason matchup, and all but one of those series lasted seven games.
Artemi Panarin has been all but unstoppable this season, accumulating 49 goals and 71 assists while playing in every game for the second consecutive season. The 32-year-old enters the playoffs on a 13-game points streak, and the Caps will have to find a way to contain him.
The big question on the other side is how much his superstar countryman, Alex Ovechkin, has in the tank. The Washington captain had a modest season by his standards but still led the team with 31 goals. Can the Great 8 summon more postseason heroics at age 38?
Here's how to tune in and find out:
Rangers vs. Capitals schedule, scores, results
Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 will be played at Madison Square Garden, with Games 3, 4 and 6 set for Capital One Arena.
The full series schedule is below:
Rangers win 4-0
| Date | Game | Time (ET)/Result | TV channel/Live stream |
| April 21 | Game 1 | Rangers 4, Capitals 1 | ESPN, Fubo |
| April 23 | Game 2 | Rangers 4, Capitals 3 | ESPN, Fubo |
| April 26 | Game 3 | Rangers 3, Capitals 1 | TNT, truTV, Sling |
| April 28 | Game 4 | Rangers 4, Capitals 2 | TBS, truTV, Sling |
Where to watch Rangers vs. Capitals
The Rangers-Capitals series will air on ESPN and the Warner Bros. Discovery networks. ESPN games can be streamed via Fubo, which offers a free trial so you can try before you buy. Games on TNT, TBS and truTV can be streamed on Sling.
If Rangers vs. Capitals is not available to watch live in your location or if you're traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs provide a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
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Rangers vs. Capitals playoff series tickets 2024
- Tickets: StubHub
Get tickets to Rangers-Capitals and every NHL playoff series on StubHub. Click the link below to browse available tickets and prices.
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NHL playoffs bracket 2024