3 Stars from the Rangers’ 4-1 Game 1 win over the Capitals on Sunday:
1. Matt Rempe
To the delight of the Garden crowd and the Blueshirts in general, the 6-foot-8 ¹/₂ forward jump-started the team’s three-goal second period by scoring its first goal of the playoffs in his postseason debut.
2. Jimmy Vesey
Finishing with a goal and an assist, Vesey served as a key component of the Rangers’ fourth line, which dominated on the forecheck and scored two of the club’s four goals.
3. Artemi Panarin
Coming off last season’s disappointing performance in the playoffs, Artemi Panarin started out on the right foot with a crucial goal 33 seconds after Rempe scored to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.
Key Moment
Madison Square Garden was alarmingly quiet through a sleepy-and-scoreless first period, but after Rempe scored the World’s Most Famous Arena was awakened in a way that the Rangers fed off of for the remainder of the game.
Quote of the Day
“I know my game. I can skate well, be physical and I’m built for the playoffs, I think. That’s where you want to play and I was happy with how tonight went.”
— Matt Rempe