Stunned silence. That's the best way to describe Madison Square Garden after Joel Ward scored at 19:58.7 of the third period to give Washington a 2-1 victory in Game 1. New York had tied the game on a Jesper Fast deflection with 4:39 left in the contest, countering an Alex Ovechkin first period power-play goal. But a confluence of mistakes in the final 24 seconds ended up resulting in Ward's game-winning goal.
Overall, I didn't think New York had a particularly good game. We know in the playoffs, or any game, you will never have perfection. There always will be mistakes, it just depends on what happens with those mistakes.
To me, here are a few:
- two bad turnovers by Miller, one that Ward almost converted, hitting the post - a PP that was for the most part invisible - Nash-Brassard-MSL did basically nothing. I don't agree with Mike Milbury that Nash was "marshmallow soft," but when you compare him to Ovechkin, who was all over the place and more than willing to throw his weight and presence around, he could be perceived that. Nash didn't to produce, plain and simple, and that production must be goals or passes that directly leads to east goals. - Stepan and Kreider were okay. - Hagelin-Hayes-Fast the best line by far. - Fourth line was non-descript. - Pockets of pressure but nothing consistent, other than the stretch late in the first, a brief spurt in the second and when pushing for the tying goal in the third - the transition game was lacking as Washington clogged the neutral zone - Klein moved to play with Staal, as he and Yandle were struggling to together. - Boyle got caught on first goal and has to keep Ovi wider but also was key on keeping puck in for the Rangers goal. He was crushed from behind on second, but has to play it or moved more to corner and the rest of the Stepan line as well as McD all made misplays on the ice in that sequence. - Defensively, too much room allowed to Washington - Hank was good not outstanding but very good. - Not enough pressure on Holtby, as he had a relatively easy game - Bad job by AV managing the game. Barry Trotz was able to get Ovechkin away from McDonagh and Girardi and on against Staal and Boyle, despite not having the last shift. Vigneault kind of got played on the Cap's PP goal in terms of who was on the ice. With Klein back, why is Boyle on the penalty kill on Ovechkin's goal? Also, after the icing and offsides, why is Boyle and not Girardi or Staal on the ice late? in addition, why is Miller there rather a more responsible defensive player? - Give the Capitals credit. The played a hard game, not varying from their strategy and took control of the style of the contest.
Evidence of the team's struggles can be seen in the following two graphs from War-on-Ice. While the Miller-Stepan-Kreider line was the only forwards for New York to have a positive shot attempt differential at 5v5 (first graph), most of those shots (as seen from the second graph) came from the perimeter, so it's not as they were controlling plays and making Holtby work.
miller-stepan-kreider-yandle-klein were the only nyr players to have a positive shot attempt differential at 5v5:
miller-stepan-kreider-yandle-klein were the only nyr players to have a positive shot attempt differential at 5v5: pic.twitter.com/k7uyXGtdPb
— WAR On Ice (@war_on_ice) May 1, 2015WSH had more shots on goal in the medium- and high-danger areas. Most nyr shots were from the perimeter (5v5 only):
WSH had more shots on goal in the medium- and high-danger areas. Most nyr shots were from the perimeter (5v5 only): pic.twitter.com/Z1fnT6OVuq
— WAR On Ice (@war_on_ice) May 1, 2015Now on the game-winning goal. The entire bad sequence started with 27 seconds left. Klein puts the puck around the boards that Miller missed, leading to an icing with about 24 seconds left. The Rangers won the draw and then Kreider tried to put the puck in the Washington zone, but Backstrom got a piece, causing Stepan to go offsides with 14 seconds left. Here where it gets worse.
Off the draw, it was a poor play by Miller on the face off allowing Ovi to get inside position and carry the puck to the Rangers zone. It ended up in the corner with McD and Boyle not communicating a bit. Boyle got to the puck and looked like he was trying to waste clock. That when he got blasted by Backstrom (see below).
Backstrom's "check" on Boyle
GIF: does he hit him in the numbers? not exactly pic.twitter.com/jXPsdBFFiY
— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) May 1, 2015You can easily make the argument that it was boarding or an elbow, as Backstrom came a long way to hit Boyle and it was high. There is also a good possibility Boyle was injured on the play due to the hit. Boyle didn't turn just before Backstrom made contact, but regardless, he still needs to either take the expected hit and maintain possession or move the puck off the boards or deeper in the zone to kill time. In addition, give the time remaining in the game, it's not surprising a call wasn't made. The view on if one was warranted or not likely depends on your rooting interest, as it may be clouded due to the end result of the play.
McDonagh got caught deep, then he and Stepan both chased Ovi with neither covering the front of net. That coverage should have been by McDonagh but he chased the puck. While that was happening, Miller blew his coverage, failing to get Ward, leaving him open for the easy goal. The end result was a 2-1 loss.
New York has to be a lot better in game 2. They need Nash to be the Nash of the first few months, not the playoff version of him since coming to NY. The defense needs to find a way to move the puck quickly to create counter-opportunities. MSL has to get off the milk carton. A better and earlier sense of urgency would be nice, as that too was lacking. Cutting off time and space from Ovechkin is a major key, as he seemed to get where he wanted on the ice with little resistance too often.
Saturday is not a must win, as New York lost Games 1 and 2 against Washington in the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs but won the series in seven games. However, you would like to have a bit more wiggle room and send the series back to the Nation's Capital at 1-1. Maybe the time off hurt the Rangers more than helped them, so getting right back at it may be a good thing. It's a early start Saturday, with game time at 12:30, so tonight's bad taste must be wiped away quickly for NY to be ready to take on Washington.