Brassy! Derick Brassard celebrates his overtime winner with Rick Nash.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

If the first round was just an appetizer, then Round Two should be a entree for the Rangers when they face a Capitals test starting tonight at MSG. After dismissing the Penguins in a much closer fought five games that included OT winners from Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin, they should be ready for a tough battle against a physical opponent who won a war of attrition over the Islanders in seven.

The Caps love to hit. Led by captain Alex Ovechkin, they will look to punish the Rangers. Featuring heavy hitters Brooks Orpik, Tom Wilson and Troy Brouwer, they’ll try to use their size to wear down a strong Rangers defense that gets back Kevin Klein. Matt Hunwick did an admirable job. Unless Klein is banged up or Dan Boyle struggles, they boast a deep blueline led by captain Ryan McDonagh. Teamed with the rugged Dan Girardi, they’ve matched up against Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom plenty in the playoffs.

The Rangers and Capitals will see each other for the fifth time in six years. The Caps took the first two but the Rangers returned the favor prevailing in seven in both 2012 and 2013. Three of the previous four have gone the distance.

After missing the postseason last year, Washington is back with new coach Barry Trotz. They’re deeper thanks to key blueline additions Orpik, Matt Niskanen and former Cup winner Tim Gleason. Karl Alzner had a great first round scoring twice. They also boast better scoring depth with electrifying Russian rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov burning the Islanders for three goals including the series clincher. He anchors a good second line that includes Marcus Johansson and Jason Chimera. Joel Ward plays with Backstrom and Ovechkin. He’s a good fit taking the body and going to the net. Trotz has Brouwer on the third line with Jay Beagle and Andre Burakovsky. The fourth line is your classic crash unit featuring Wilson, Brooks Laich and Curtis Glencross.

Braden Holtby will match-up against Henrik Lundqvist. He’s had a very good season winning 41 games with nine shutouts and a .923 save percentage. He allowed seven goals in the last five games against the Isles finishing with a 1.63 goals-against-average in the first round. All-time versus the Rangers in the postseason, he has a 2.05 GAA and .925 save percentage. Aside from a Game 2 hiccup in which he permitted four goals, Lundqvist shutdown the Pens limiting them to four total in the Rangers’ four wins all by an identical 2-1 score. He was at his best the final two games when things got tight with each needing overtime.

For the Rangers, they’re missing top right wing Mats Zuccarello, who suffered an apparent concussion in Game 5 against Pittsburgh when he took a McDonagh shot off the side of his helmet. The team lists him as out indefinitely. The New York Post’s Larry Brooks is now reporting that he’ll miss the entire second round and his status remains uncertain if the Rangers advance to the Conference Finals. Who knows what the timetable is.

For the Blueshirts, they’ll have to find a way to overcome Zuccarello’s loss. He’s an important player who does so much including use his speed and creativity on the forecheck while also being a diligent backchecker. He’s a pesky player who goes to the net and is never afraid to mix it up. Zuccarello’s replacement Martin St. Louis won’t do that. The 39-year old former Hart winner has a similar skill set. They’re practically the same size. St. Louis brings plenty of skill and experience. Moved up to the top line with Rick Nash and Derick Brassard, he must be better this series. He didn’t score a goal but set up Hayes’ Game 5 OT winner.

“I think they play similar; they have the same height,” a chuckling Brassard said of the diminutive wingers. “They both like to make plays and like to work off [their linemates].

Sometimes, St. Louis can be too unselfish. When he was on the Hayes’ third unit, he was more of a shooter. Back on the top line, he’ll be more of a play maker looking to set up Nash. The key is he must also think shot when the opportunity presents itself. Brassard was the best player on the line in Round One torching the Pens for three goals. Nash recorded a goal and three assists tying Brassard for the team lead in points with McDonagh, who quietly registered four points.

A big key will be Nash who was solid in their first round win. Four points in five games is okay considering how much the Pens slowed it down. However, Nash has yet to have that breakout series. He’ll be defended well by the combination of Orpik and John Carlson. However, he has enough size and speed to make an impact.

Without Zuccarello, that puts more attention on Chris Kreider. He only had one point. The game-winner in Game 3. He did throw his weight around registering 18 hits. His combination of size, speed and skill must be a factor. Playing with USA sidekicks Derek Stepan and J.T. Miller, Kreider is the Rangers’ most physically gifted forward. He takes the body and goes to the net. They need him.

Stepan is the heady two-way pivot who always is in the right spot. Whether it be defensively or offensively, he’s going to make the smart read. A very unselfish player, he has great chemistry with Miller and Kreider. Miller has developed into a physical two-way threat who plays with edge. He also only had one point in the first series but delivered 19 hits. Stepan had two goals and a helper. The second unit will need to be more consistent.

The third line was a determining factor against the Pens. After a slow start to his postseason career, Hayes scored his first goal in Game 4 of sudden death finishing off a play started by St. Louis with Hagelin right in the middle. Ironically, it was Hagelin who eliminated the Pens in Game 5 when he retrieved a loose puck from Dominic Moore and came out and beat Marc-Andre Fleury. Hagelin had two goals and an assist. His game breaking speed was a factor. His speed and defensive acumen allow him to be a two-way threat. His hustle is what makes him such a effective player.

Minus Zuccarello, rookie Jesper Fast moves up to the third line with Hayes and Hagelin. Fast doesn’t do anything fancy. However, he’s a good defensive forward who can forecheck. In a more offensive role, he can contribute. He spent some time with Hayes and Hagelin during the season.

With Fast moved up, deadline acquisition James Sheppard becomes a key cog to the fourth line anchored by Moore and flanked by Tanner Glass. In Round One, the fourth line was only on for one goal against and were effective during most of their shifts. Moore remains the most overlooked player on the roster. Dependable at even strength as well as penalty kill, he also is good on faceoffs. He went 35-and-31 against the Pens. Glass picked his spots finishing with 19 hits and no penalties. He’ll have to remain disciplined against the ornery Wilson and Glencross. Sheppard is an agitator who is capable of contributing. He must avoid the box.

The Rangers should have an edge on the back end. With Klein returning, it gives them four reliable defensemen who can play their end tough. Klein also is good at reading and reacting with a underrated right shot that hits the net. Keith Yandle had a couple of days off which should help his health. He had a good first series assisting on two goals while playing steady defensively. A strong skater and great passer, he made a perfect stretch pass that set up a Hagelin goal. Marc Staal was okay but can play better. Whether he’s paired with Boyle or Klein, he’ll likely draw the assignment against Kuznetsov. That could prove challenging.

Lundqvist gives them the edge in net. Though Holtby always seems to rise up in these series, it’ll be up to the offense to crack the Caps goalie.

Special teams are always huge. The Caps had the top ranked power play. Against the Isles, that didn’t matter. They only scored once while blanking the Isles. The Isles did a great job shadowing Ovechkin to limit his dangerous one-timer. Usually, the Rangers are able to keep him at bay. However, he scored five goals in the season series including four power play goals. Way too many due to leaving too much space. They must do a better job and of course stay disciplined. No silly penalties. It’s not just Ovechkin you must worry about. Backstrom, Brouwer, Ward and Carlson are all part of it. Kuznetsov is on the second unit with Mike Green.

When it comes to the power play, it makes Ranger fans cringe. They did score three times against the Pens. But if they have that many chances, they have to be able to punish opponents more. So, if the Caps start taking liberties at some point it has to click.

Both coaches are proven. Vigneault seems to push all the right buttons. The team responds to him and is as together as I can ever remember. They like each other. There’s great camaraderie. Top to bottom. Trotz is a great mind. Very respected, he was able to limit the Isles’ offense. His team never buckled despite all the pressure.

Series Prediction: When it comes down to it, the Caps will give the Rangers all they can handle. No Zuccarello should hurt. But unless Ovechkin explodes or Holtby outplays Lundqvist, they should still prevail. It’ll be close.

Rangers in 6