The Capitals aren’t talking like heavy underdogs. They enter Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Thursday night at the Garden saying this is just as much their series to win as the favored Rangers.
“Statistically, media-wise, obviously we’re the underdog, but I don’t believe anyone in here looks at it as far as being overmatched,” Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby said. “The league now is so close. You look at the last playoffs, it really doesn’t matter where you finish. It’s how you play, how you prepare. It’s something that doesn’t really cross your mind.
“We believe we can beat any team in the league. I’m sure everyone does, every team. We know that chances were we had to go through the Rangers to accomplish our goal. It’s not a shock to us. It’s not like we’re intimidated by any teams. We respect them a lot, but if you’re going to win, you have to beat the best regular season-wise. They were the best. We’re ready for the challenge.”
Capitals forward Tom Wilson, who drew the ire of the Islanders for his controversial hit on defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky that resulted in a concussion in the opening round, expects the series to be heated, with plenty of trash-talking and physical play.
“I’m sure they don’t like us. We don’t like them,” Wilson said. “They got some guys on their team, they’ll yap, and we got some guys on our team who will kind of respond. Hopefully, we’ll play between the whistles.
“We played against them so much over the years, and obviously [there is] a lot of history and stuff. Every game is pretty emotional. I don’t think it would be a good thing if you like the team you were playing against.”
The Rangers got the better of the four-game regular-season series, taking three of four, but the Capitals enter Game 1 feeling good about their chances after eliminating the Islanders in a hard-fought seven games. They have plenty of respect for the Presidents’ Cup-winning Blueshirts, but they also feel they have the speed and the firepower and the physicality to match up with the Metropolitan Division champions.
“We’re right in the series,” Wilson said. “We match up pretty well with the Rangers. They’re the best team in the league right now, they had an amazing regular season, but the great thing about that is the season is done. It’s anyone’s for the taking. Seeds from the regular season don’t mean a lot. It’s about who leaves it out there each game.
“They got a lot of good weapons, but we got weapons over here, and we’re going to try to stick to our identity, play some playoff hockey and end up on top.”