Peter Laviolette, the head coach of the New York Rangers, is about to embark on a series of reunions as his team faces the Washington Capitals in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Laviolette, who has coached a number of teams throughout his career, will potentially face four teams that he has previously coached on his way to winning the Stanley Cup.
One of those teams is the Capitals, whom Laviolette coached just last season. The Capitals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014 under Laviolette’s coaching. While there have been some changes to the Capitals’ roster, including the trade of Evegeny Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes, the team remains largely similar in terms of personnel.
Laviolette acknowledges that there is a level of insight both he and the Capitals have into each other’s strategies and systems. This was evident in the four games they played against each other in the regular season. Laviolette also highlighted Alex Ovechkin as an incredible goal scorer, noting that his ability to score goals is unmatched by many players in the league.
In terms of the Rangers’ lineup, Filip Chytil has been participating in practice without any restrictions. While he hasn’t consistently taken line rushes, he has rotated in and even had a rep on the right wing of Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. However, Laviolette has chosen not to divulge any personnel or lineup changes, including Chytil’s status for Game 1.
Lastly, Mika Zibanejad celebrated his 31st birthday on Thursday, adding a positive note to the Rangers’ preparations for the playoffs.
Overall, Peter Laviolette’s reunion with the Capitals sets the stage for an intriguing matchup in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. With his experience coaching multiple teams, Laviolette brings a unique perspective to the series. The Rangers will need to rely on their defensive capabilities and find a way to contain Alex Ovechkin’s scoring prowess if they hope to advance further in the playoffs. As the team prepares for Game 1, the status of Filip Chytil remains uncertain, but his presence in practice is a positive sign. Despite the challenges they may face, the Rangers are confident in their ability to compete and make a deep playoff run.
