The New York Rangers head into Game 5 of their second round series on Friday in a situation nobody expected them to be in: on the brink of elimination to the Washington Capitals.
NHL playoffs schedule 2015: Capitals can eliminate Rangers, Flames try to pull even
Two massive opportunities await Washington and Calgary on Friday.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Granted, it is the playoffs. Anything can happen, especially in the NHL. But the Rangers earned the President’s Trophy as the league’s leading points earner in the regular season, and for them to bow out to a Capitals team with a spotty playoff record is mildly surprising.
But for the Capitals, it will be earned if they win on Friday. They've been led by star Alex Ovechkin and goalie Braden Holtby, two of the best players at their positions in the playoffs so far. Ovechkin has eight points in 11 playoff games, while Holtby leads every statistical category for goalies.
The Rangers are 1-17 all-time in series they have trailed 3-1.
Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks must fend off a Calgary Flames team suddenly ready to fight back. The Flames avoided a dreaded 3-0 series hole by eking out an overtime win in Game 3, and now have the opportunity to even the series with a win on the home ice they've played so well on all year.
A full list of Friday’s games is below. All times are Eastern.
| Matchup | Series | Time | TV |
| Washington at New York | WAS leads 3-1 | 7 p.m. | NBCSN, CBC |
| Anaheim at Calgary | ANA leads 2-1 | 9:30 p.m. | NBCSN, SN |
See More:
