What to watch for: Craig Anderson is kryptonite to Rangers

Watch as Erik Karlsson beats Henrik Lundqvist from an impossible angle to give the Ottawa Senators the lead over the New York Rangers in Game 1.

It’s NHL Draft Lottery day and it’s also time for Eastern Conference teams to get back to work. We’ve got one afternoon game and another in prime time on the docket Saturday. Here’s what to watch for.

vs. Game 2

3 p.m. ET on CBC

While Erik Karlsson continued his remarkable play, scoring the winning goal for the Ottawa Senators late in the third period Thursday, the goalies were the real story in Game 1. Henrik Lundqvist needed to make 21 saves in the first (a career playoff high for a single period) to keep his New York Rangers in the game and finished with 41 total saves. His counterpart, Craig Anderson, also needed to stand on his head at times, which is something the Rangers have become accustomed to seeing.

There will also be a spotlight on how many empty seats there may or may not be at the Canadian Tire Centre. An announced attendance of 16,744—approximately 2,000 seats below capacity—for Thursday’s game ended up being discussed nearly as much as the team’s 2-1 victory.

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vs. Game 2

8 p.m. ET, CBC

We know there are more than just two players on the ice when the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals meet but both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were front and centre in Game 1.

Crosby recorded his 51st career multiple-point playoff game, which is the most among active players, to lead his team to a 3-2 win and has consistently gotten the better of his matchups against Ovechkin throughout their careers.

Washington has one of the most dangerous power plays in the league but weren’t given a man advantage at all in Game 1. The odds of that happening two games in a row are slim, so look for the Capitals to be opportunistic if they do go on the power play.

The Penguins might get an additional burst of speed injected into their lineup if Carl Hagelin gets the green light. The forward has missed the last 22 games dating back to the regular season but practised in a full-contact jersey Friday. He’ll be a game-time decision.

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