NHL

Rangers-Capitals matchups

WASHINGTON — No team in the NHL played better hockey the final five weeks of the season than the Capitals, who came from nine points behind the Jets on March 20 to grab the Southeast title and third seed in the East with an 11-1-1 and 15-2-2 stretch run that makes the Blueshirts’ 10-3-1 finish appear lukewarm by comparison.

These aren’t last year’s Dale Hunter Caps, who lost in seven to the Blueshirts in the conference semifinals while trying to out-black-and-blue the Black-and-Blueshirts, Washington blocking 169 shots to New York’s 112.

These Caps can still grind, but under Adam Oates, the new man behind the bench, they have become an attack team, pressuring the puck and creating off the rush while deadly with the man advantage. Conversely, they are vulnerable to the counter, having surrendered the fourth-most shots in the league with the second-poorest GAA of playoff qualifiers.

Goaltending

Henrik Lundqvist, as tough a competitor as there is in the business, has regained his elite form following a first half in which he was undermined by inconsistency. The King has been very quick around the net while challenging shooters, and, for the most part, has minimized, if not eliminated, juicy rebounds and sharp-angle goals to the glove side.

Washington’s Braden Holtby is unflappable and capable of stealing games. He does leave loose change around the net and can be prone to surrendering the odd marginal goal; though not many lately.

Defense

Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh both stepped up after Marc Staal went down in early March, but No. 18’s absence creates matchup problems for coach John Tortorella and puts a strain on Michael Del Zotto and Anton Stralman. The Rangers’ D must be careful not to be over-aggressive going for the hit in the corners which would leave the front of the net open.

Mike Green’s return to form — 12 goals to lead NHL defensemen — has restored an offensive dimension to a deep Caps blue line that offers a blend of skating ability and toughness. John Carlson joins the attack while Karl Alzner stays at home.

Forwards

The Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan combination has become deadly, with Carl Hagelin’s speed completing the Rangers’ most dangerous unit. Brad Richards has experienced a late season revival, regaining the assignment as second-line pivot between Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello. It’s not about getting chances at this point for Nash; it’s about finishing them. That’s why he was hired. Depth is a major issue with Brian Boyle and Ryane Clowe (and Derek Dorsett) sidelined. Derick Brassard’s game slipped the last two weeks. Tortorella can only shorten his bench so far, so soon.

Alex Ovechkin, the Rocket Richard winner with 32 goals, appears unconquerable, an immovable object and irresistible force firing lasers on a line with complementary talents Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson. Mike Ribeiro centers Troy Brouwer and Martin Erat on a unit that is extremely tough to handle down low. Third-line grinding winger Jason Chimera always gives the Rangers fits.

Special teams

The Rangers’ power play has been hit and miss (more miss than hit) all year though Richards’ revitalization should give the unit a boost. Callahan and Stepan are a dynamic PK tandem, but the Blueshirts have been ordinary shorthanded, finishing 15th overall and 26th on the road in man-down efficiency.

The Caps fire away with Ovechkin and Green running the show on a power play that led the NHL at 26.8 percent. The penalty kill has been inferior, fourth-worst in the NHL, setting up a weakness vs. weakness confrontation when the Rangers have the man advantage.

Coaching

John Tortorella grew relatively comfortable with his personnel following the transformation around the trade deadline but will have to resist the temptation to cut down to 13 players by the third period of the first game if the Rangers are going to advance in the tournament marathon.

Adam Oates displayed an admirable amount of patience and poise in his first head coaching job in working with — not against — Ovechkin.

Prediction

Depth will be an issue, but if Blueshirts, who had third-best 5-on-5 goal ratio in NHL at 1.30 behind only Chicago (1.52) and Pittsburgh (1.35), can maintain discipline and stay out of box, they should prevail. Rangers in 6.