Rangers don’t take the bait, fend off attempts to agitate from Tom Wilson and Capitals

All the talk heading into Game 1 between the Rangers and Capitals in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was about the familiarity between these two Eastern Conference foes.

The Capitals knew they had to have a game plan of being the aggressors on the road against the Presidents’ Trophy winners.

Spoiler alert: it didn't work.

The Blueshirts used a flurry of three early second-period goals in a span of 2:06 to take a 3-0 lead over the Capitals in an eventual 4-1 victory in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

It was something Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette echoed prior to puck drop that afternoon.

"It made it easier when I went over their lineup and their players because of the familiarity of the three years (in Washington),” said Laviolette, who was the head coach in Washington from 2020-22 before taking over in New York as head coach this season.

“Obviously the (Capitals) want to play physical and we want to play physical. It's the playoffs. This is what it's all about. Both teams are trying to do the same thing.”

More: Game 1 takeaways: Matt Rempe, fourth line serve as catalysts in Rangers' win over Capitals

This was evident following the Rangers’ offensive frenzy early in the second period. The Capitals were trying anything and everything to frustrate the Rangers to somehow get back in the game.

“It was competitive,” Laviolette said. “I watched the (playoff) games that happened (Saturday) night. I didn't get a chance to watch the one that happened before us. But I mean, it's the playoffs. It's competitive out there, and they're going to be physical, and we're going to try and do the same. There's going to be an emotion between the two teams.”

"I didn't think anything was really out of line with that,” Laviolette added. “We did want to try and stay out of the (penalty) box, and not have guys parading to the box just because of the score and the time. Once you get five minutes, 10 minutes (remaining), you'd rather just play it out.”

This included fan favorite Matt Rempe, the first goal scorer of the game, being pursued by Capitals defenseman Dylan Mcllrath, but not taking the bait despite being known to drop the gloves regularly to start his NHL career.

“He was just bumping into me. There was nothing there. He’s doing his job. I was going to the net, and he bumped into me. There was absolutely nothing there. He’s playing hard and I’m playing hard," Rempe said.

Immediately following the second period, Capitals defenseman Trevor van Reimsdyk tried to get under the skin of nearly the entire Rangers team once the horn sounded, but as was the theme throughout the night, to no avail.

Washington's Tom Wilson, noted thorn in the Rangers' side of years past, laid a pair of big hits on Mika Zibanejad in the second period and exited the game early following a net-front scrum with Braden Schneider that led to a 10-minute misconduct penalty in the final minute of play.

"You’re expected to finish your checks this time of year," Wilson said following the game.

"I think we could do a little bit more of that. I think the first period teams are feeling each other out a little bit. That being said, it’s playoff time. Guys are expected to get hit. You’re expecting guys to give hits.”

While Rempe found the back of the net for only the second time in his young career, it showed the 6-foot-8 enforcer is willing to do whatever's necessary -- whether it's dropping the gloves when needed or generally agitating opponents with his physical play -- in order for the Rangers to be successful this postseason.

“I’m going to play hard,” he said. “I feel like if that happens, then that's good. That means I’m doing my job, but it’s one game. I think I was effective tonight, but there’s a lot of work to do.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Rangers don’t take Game 1 bait from Tom Wilson and Capitals