WASHINGTON (AP) — New York Rangers coach John Tortorella wants to make one thing perfectly clear: His players are ready for Game 4 against the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
Says Tortorella on Friday: “This isn’t a tired team.”
Top-seeded New York leads the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-1, thanks to a 2-1 victory in Wednesday’s three-overtime Game 3.
Tortorella used fewer players for more minutes apiece than Washington coach Dale Hunter, who spread ice out more evenly among a larger group in that extra-long game. Tortorella bristled at a question about his players rebounding physically, saying: “We’re fine.”
The Capitals are hoping to continue a pattern: They haven’t lost two consecutive games in more than a month.
Forward Matt Hendricks says that’s because his team is “mentally tougher” than in past seasons.
