Game 4 lineup: Rangers have chance to conserve valuable energy if they complete sweep

WASHINGTON, D.C. - By the time the Rangers reached the midway point of the 2022 Eastern Conference Final, they were admittedly worn out.

Playing a pair of grueling, seven-game series in the first two rounds of the playoffs will do that.

"A lot of it was mentally and emotionally high," captain Jacob Trouba recalled following Saturday's optional practice at Capital One Arena. "I remember you win that Game 7, the first one, and then we're back at it like two days later. That's a very big high, and then a reset very quickly to get back to Game 1. But I also think that was a good experience for us − a learning experience to be put in that situation. I think that's going to bode well for us moving forward."

The Blueshirts rode that high to a 2-0 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning before the combination of fatigue and injury from playing 20 games in 40 nights caught up to them. They dropped the next four games, putting an abrupt end to a memorable run.

Two years later, the Rangers have a chance to blaze a different path and conserve some valuable energy. They've opened their first-round series against Washington by winning three straight, with a chance to close out the Capitals early when the puck drops for Game 4 on Sunday at 8 p.m. A win would give them their first playoff sweep since 2007.

Of course, the 2022 experience also taught them not to take any situation for granted.

"You can rest, but I don't want to talk about it because (sweeping) is not easy to do," said a cautious Artemi Panarin said. "If you're winning 3-0, you still have 60 minutes (left) to battle."

That focus-on-the-task-at-hand attitude is not just hyperbole. It's a genuine mantra that hasn't wavered all season, propelling the Rangers to rack up the most wins in franchise history (55) while earning their fourth Presidents' Trophy.

"It starts with (head coach Peter Laviolette) emphasizing the only thing we can control − the only thing we should be focusing on − is that game that night," veteran forward Barclay Goodrow said. "There's really nothing else to worry about. We've had a one-game-at-a-time mindset the whole year. Especially in playoffs, that's the mindset you need to have."

As boring as that might sound, it's clearly helped the Rangers stay in the moment and take care of business through three games against the undermanned Capitals.

They've been the better team in almost every facet of the game, whether it's special teams (where they've gone 13-for-15 on the penalty kill, with a pair of shorthanded goals), depth of scoring (with 13 different players registering at least one point) or goaltending (where Igor Shesterkin's posted a .933 save percentage, compared to an .864 for Caps goalie Charlie Lindgren).

But they believe their early playoff success starts with defense, with only five total goals allowed so far and an average of 25 shots against per game.

"It's probably too much special teams than either team would like, but I think we've defended pretty well, both on the penalty kill and five-on-five," forward Jimmy Vesey said. "We haven't given up much, so that's probably something we can build on."

Despite the Rangers' obvious edge in several important categories, they have faced brief moments of adversity. That includes allowing the first goal in each of the previous two games, but they responded swiftly each time.

That resiliency also traces back to the 2022 run, which 12 of the current 20 active players were a part of.

"The biggest (lesson) was the highs and lows," said defenseman K'Andre Miller, who got his first taste of the playoffs that year. "In the playoffs, there's a lot of highs and lows. Energy shifts and momentum shifts and things like that, so I think just managing that and realizing you're not going to win a game in the first minute. You're not going to lose a game in the first minute, but just trying to stick through a full 60 minutes the right way."

If the Rangers can play another 60 minutes the right way on Sunday, they'll become the only team to sweep a first-round series this year. (Carolina and Florida both missed chances with Game 4 losses on Saturday.)

That would set them up for some critical time to recuperate before the next round − likely another showdown with the Hurricanes − after not having that luxury a couple years ago.

"Any time the series goes later, it's obviously more games, more stress, more on the body, so you always want to close out as fast as you can," Trouba said. "That's something that's obviously not a given. They're going to come out and play like their lives are on the line. But the quicker we can try to get that fourth win, I think, is obviously better for the longevity of our bodies or how we're feeling (and) getting a little extra rest. Two years ago, the seven-game series will pile up on you, so obviously that's a big factor to keep as fresh as we can."

NY Rangers (3-0) projected lineup: Game 4, first round, at Washington Capitals (0-3)

When: Sunday, Apr. 28 at 8 p.m.

Where: Capital One Arena in Washington

TV/Radio: MSG Network and TBS/98.7 FM

Forwards

Top line ⊳ Chris Kreider (LW) ⋄ Mika Zibanejad (C) ⋄ Jack Roslovic (RW)

Second line ⊳ Artemi Panarin (LW) ⋄ Vincent Trocheck (C) ⋄ Alexis Lafrenière (RW)

Third line ⊳ Will Cuylle (LW) ⋄ Alex Wennberg (C) ⋄ Kaapo Kakko (RW)

Fourth line ⊳ Jimmy Vesey (LW) ⋄ Barclay Goodrow (C) ⋄ Matt Rempe (RW)

Defensemen

Top pair ⊳ Ryan Lindgren (L) ⋄ Adam Fox (R)

Second pair ⊳ K'Andre Miller (L) ⋄ Braden Schneider (R)

Third pair ⊳ Erik Gustafsson (L) ⋄ Jacob Trouba (R)

Goalies

Starter ⊳ Igor Shesterkin

Backup ⊳ Jonathan Quick

Healthy scratches: F Jonny Brodzinski, G Louis Domingue, F Adam Edström,D Zac Jones and D Chad Ruhwedel

Long-term injured reserve: F Filip Chytil (upper body) and F Blake Wheeler (lower body)

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Game 4 lineup: Rangers have chance for first playoff sweep since 2007