Rangers Vs. Capitals, Game 1: Mike Green Returns, Michal Neuvirth Starts Vs. Henrik Lundqvist

After a weak ending that required the Carolina Hurricanes to lose in their final game for them to make the post-season, the New York Rangers are a bit like that guy at the party that no one is quite sure of how they got invited.

That said, they are here and certainly deserving of the eighth seed in this Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series. They head out on the road Wednesday night, looking to make their own Cinderella story in Game 1 of a best-of-seven with the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center this evening.

For the Rangers, the big news -- aside from Ryan Callahan's injury -- is that Sean Avery will be a healthy scratch for Game 1. Avery was a scratch in six of the final 13 games down the stretch in the regular season for New York, and will sit once again along with former Capital Steve Eminger. Norwegian dynamo Mats Zuccarello returns to the lineups for the Rangers, as well as Matt Gilroy. Zuccarello will play on a line with Erik Christensen and Chris Drury, while Gilroy will be on a defensive pairing with Brian McCabe.

As for Washington, Mike Green is expected to return to the team's defense in Game 1. He's expected to be paired up with John Erskine. It was previously announced that Michal Neuvirth will start in goal for the Capitals instead of Semyon Varlamov. Here are the expected lineups for both teams, based on morning skate notes: