Rangers celebrating. Photo by: Stacy Podelski

Round Two of the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals is heading to the Nation’s Capital on Wednesday, with the series tied at one-and these two rivals just heating things up. With the first two rounds held at Madison Square Garden, the scene shifts for Game Three with the Rangers looking for revenge from a 3-2 loss at home on Monday night.

The Blueshirts enters the game with a 90-134-6 Playoff record on the road, and will look to change that fate with rookies Chris Kreider and Carl Hagelin leading the charge for New York.

Kreider has impressed, notching his first goal at Madison Square Garden, the game-winning goal in Game One between the Rangers and the Capitals.  The Boston College graduate also added his first career assist in the game, becoming the first Blueshirts player to record two points in a playoff game since Niklas Sundstrom on May 11, 1996.

Hagelin, who has been the Blueshirts Energizer Bunny during the course of the regular season, will look to regain his scoring touch in Round Two of the playoffs. The winger tallied an assist and was credited with two hits and two blocked shots in 13:51 of ice time while making his NHL Debut in Game 1.

Brad Richards, who recorded a goal and an assist on Monday night, is going to be a huge piece to whatever playoff success the Rangers will have in 2012. The center has always been clutch when it matters recording 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in the last 10 playoff games in which his team faced elimination.

In the cage Henrik Lundqvist, who is a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender will look to regain his winning edge against the Capitals in D.C. Thus far Lundqvist holds a 5-3 record with a 1.62 goals-against average in the 2012 NHL Playoffs.

Game Three will take place on Wednesday and will be televised on the NBC Sports Network-the puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m.

Written on May 1, 2012