Conference Quarterfinal Score: Rangers/Capitals

First game 7 of the Conference Quarterfinals as the Rangers cannot get it done against the Capitals.  Didn’t catch the entire game but Lundqvist looks tired, Varlamov has really stepped up and I think that the Caps have just too many weapons on offense. 

Expect Donald Brashear to get suspended for the next game as he had a brief physical encounter with the Rangers Colton Orr in the pre-game warm up.  Even though it wasn’t a signficiant altercation apparently the NHL has a zero tolerance policy for any contact during the pre-game warm up as rule 47.9 suggests.

NHL Rule 47.9 states:

Fighting Other Than During the Periods of the Game – Any teams whose players or goalkeepers become involved in an altercation, other than during the periods of the game, shall be fined pursuant to 47.20, in addition to any other appropriate penalties that may be imposed upon the participating players or goalkeepers by supplementary discipline or otherwise.

Players involved in fighting other than during the periods of the game shall be assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct. Should one player be deemed the instigator of the fight, the game misconduct shall not be assessed to his opponent.

Any player or goalkeeper who would be deemed to be an instigator pursuant to this ruleat a time other than during the periods of the game shall be suspended pursuant to 47.20.

So Brashear doesn’t appear likely to suit up for the Caps in game 7.  If they are looking for a fighter perhaps they can get the fan who wanted to fight Tortorella.