Wow. The only word that really fits is wow. The Rangers became the first team to rally from 3-1 series deficits in defeating Washington 2-1 in overtime Wednesday. I guess none of us should be shocked that it was a one-goal game, as all seven contests in this round were decided by that slimmest of margins. Plus, 2-1 seems to be the Rangers' favorite score this postseason.
The two teams felt each other out early on but the pace then increased dramatically. Washington took a 1-0 lead, as Alexander Ovechkin converted after a brilliant feed from Marcus Johansson and beat Henrik Lundqvist short-side. A stupid icing, lost faceoff, inability to clear the puck, a failure to cover the spot and poor movement by both Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh enabled Ovi to get open and score. Rick Nash had a chance to equalize it, but he was stoned with a pad save after trying to go five-hole on Braden Holtby. At the end of one, it was 1-0 Washington with the shots 15-10 in favor of the Caps.
In the second, New York failed to convert an early power play after missing on a chance to score a PP late in the first which carried over to the second. But the third time was the charm when Mike Green took his second straight penalty, this one for cross-checking Dan Girardi. McDonagh made up for his for his mistake with a good play at the line and dish to JT Miller. Miller found Kevin Hayes back door for the tap-in goal to tie the score. The remainder of the period saw Washington increase their physical quotient but the Rangers outshot the Caps 15-7 and entered the third tied at one.
The third again saw slow action initially but it picked up slightly. A hit to the head on Dan Boyle by Brooks Orpik midway through the third resulted in Boyle lost for the rest of the game. You can say the arm was down and it wasn't an elbow, but it still was a hit to the head that should have been called and wasn't. But it's not surprising as the officials swallowed the whistle after Jesper Fast's trip on Jay Beagle at 12:13 of the second, which also came after Fast was held by Nicklas Backstrom that wasn't called. Washington seemed to carry play for stretches, as New York didn't generate much, though they did outshoot the Capitals 9-6 and had a 34-28 edge after three.
Game 7, sudden death overtime hockey. Nothing beats it, unless your team is one of the two playing and then it's nerve-wracking, rapid heartbeat, biting nails, panic time. The period started slow but then Washington seemed to tilt the ice. They kept the puck in the Rangers zone for over a minute but they were kept at bay. Then the game-winner.
An icing put the draw in the Washington zone, A faceoff win or draw, depending on your view, started the whole play. New York lost 47 of 89 draws, but not this time and it made a huge difference. Stepan took the draw, Fast - who was good again - tapped it back to Keith Yandle, who slid it across the point to Dan Girardi. His low hard shot resulted in a rebound. Chris Kreider was engaged deep with Brooks Orpik, which screened Holtby and didn't allow him to be set for the rebound. Stepan found the puck and banged it in the open net for the game-winner at 11:24 of the first and only overtime. New York was outshot 8-5 but got the two shots shots that mattered, the one that created the rebound and the one that was put in the net by Stepan Matteau (thanks Rangerdanger).
A few quick thoughts:
The Kids. Much of the focus is on the vets or young vets but the kids made a huge difference. Miller had the pass to Hayes for the first goal. Fast, who was great this series, made the key play to get the puck to the point on the game-winner.
Henrik Lundqvist. Remember when some thought the Rangers would be better with Cam Talbot in net? Holy shnike is Hank a beast. New York has won six straight Game 7s at MSG since 2012, 10 straight elimination games at the Garden and are 14-3 in their last 17 elimination games. That record is largely due to Lundqvist whose numbers are as follows: last six Game 7s: 6-0, 0.81 GAA and .973 SV%, five goals in 184 shots. Last 10 at MSG when facing elimination,10-0, 0.96 GAA and .968 SV% and last 17 when facimg eliminmation, 14-3, 1.39 GAA and .956 SV %. Calm, cool and collected between the pipes. Lundqvist had a huge save on Andre Burakovsky, not giving him the short-side. Then, when the Rangers were pinned deep in their zone in the overtime, he was calm and cool between the pipes. A cool stat is that New York won a Game 7 on May 13 the past three years and Hank has made 35 saves in each.
The blue line. Overall, a solid job. Granted, Lundqvist bailed them out at times, but the held Ovi and Backstrom to one point each the last five games, which came in this game. Took the punishment and never wavered. If Boyle is out, Matt Hunwick, who was solid when Boyle and Kelin were sidelined during the year.
Slow panic level. When the Rangers failed to beat Holtby earlier in the series, it might have been expected that the team might panic and they didn't. When down 1-0 with a bit under two minutes in a Game 5 when down 3-1, they could have panicked and didn't. When down 1-0 in Game 7 or pinned deep in their zone to start the OT, they could have panicked or lost their focus resulting in the team scrambling around and they didn't. It's the sticking with the system that makes a difference.
Rick Nash. Almost was the goat when he failed to score on the breakaway. But he almost had a deflection goal to win it in the third. Nash was strong on the puck throughout and created chances. What I really liked was him sticking for Boyle as chirping to Orpik the remainder of the game after the hit.
Ovechkin and Holtby - we can make fun of the guarantee but Ovi answers the bell he was a major threat, as per usual, every single time he was on the ice. He scored the one goal Washington tonight and had several other good chances. Holtby was a beast this series. It got to the point where we didn't know if New York would beat him at all.
AV - how about the guts to make the right move and bench MSL for Miller? That came after Kuznetsov toasted MSL and required a big save from Lundqvist. It would have been easy to stick with the current roster but he made a major decision and it worked on.
Special teams - the Caps ended the series with the best power play in the league. The a Rangers had struggled the last part of the regular season and into the playoffs. But the Rangers penalty killers stopped 14-of-15 shorthanded opportunities and the power play had another key goal. The success rate isn't great, but the three games New York had a PPG, they won the game.
Heart - if you don't drive a stake through this team's heart, they will come back and beat you. An unreal win in an unreal series. You can never ever ever rule this team out regardless of the situation. The heart of a lion and hopefully champion. Playoff and Stanley Cup winners undergone a level of adversity, hopefully, the Rangers have now gone through theirs and can move forward.
We can discuss the break down of Tampa Bay, otherwise known as Rangers south Friday. Today, we enjoy the win, but here is the schedule.
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2013 1:00 P.M. TAMPA BAY AT NY RANGERS NBCSN, CBC, TVA MONDAY, MAY 18, 2013 8:00 P.M. TAMPA BAY AT NY RANGERS NBCSN, CBC, TVA WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2013 8:00 P.M. NY RANGERS AT TAMPA BAY NBCSN, CBC, TVA FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2013 8:00 P.M. NY RANGERS AT TAMPA BAY NBCSN, CBC, TVA *SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2013 8:00 P.M TAMPA BAY AT NY RANGERS NBCSN, CBC, TVA *TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2013 8:00 P.M NY RANGERS AT TAMPA BAY NBCSN, CBC, TVA *FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2013 8:00 P.M TAMPA BAY AT NY RANGERS NBCSN, CBC, TVA
So the schedule again stinks for me, I am out Saturday for Game 1 as well as Friday for Game 4. Game 5 (if necessary) is on a Jewish holiday and Game 7 (if necessary) is also on a Friday. I am questioning Gary Bettman's status as a MOT because of this 😄. If anyone wants to blog after Game 4 and before Game 5, let me know,
Let's Go Rangers!!! #completethecomeback