The Rangers will play Washington, which beat the Islanders in Game 7 of their first-round series Monday.
We’re hearing Thursday is very likely Game 1. The Eric Clapton concert at the Garden Saturday can be moved if NBC decides it wants Rangers-Caps leading into the Kentucky Derby, or after the Run for the Roses.
The teams have met in the playoffs eight times, including four times in five years from 2009-2013. The Rangers beat the Capitals in seven games in 2012 and ’13, after the Capitals beat the Rangers in seven in ’09 (Washington coming back from a 3-1 deficit in games, and John Tortorella winging a water bottle at a fan), and in five games in ‘2011.