June 18, 2013

FIRST TAKE, GAME 7: Rangers snuff out Caps offense and dismiss them from playoffs

May 13, 2013 by

The Washington Capitals fell to 3-9 all time in Game 7s, 2-7 at home, as the New York Rangers withstood a great first period by the Caps, then took a stranglehold on the game, scoring twice in the second and twice in the third to beat the Caps 5-0. Once the power play expired at the start of the second period, you could see the Caps completely deflate and the Rangers jumped allover them, using their lesser talented players to outwork — and eventually outscore – the Caps.

It was, quite obviously, the second year in a row the Rangers dismissed the Caps from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a Game 7.

– The Caps dominated the first period everywhere but the scoreboard, holding a 32-16 advantage in shot attempts. Only 13 of the 32 attempts made their way on goal though, as the Caps had 13 attempts blocked and another six misfires.

– Ovechkin made his presence felt physically, if not on the scoresheet, with seven hits in the first, including several dramatic open-ice hits. He also pinned Ryan McDonough along the boards with a devastating hit, causing blood to leak from McDonough’s right cheek and forehead. The defenseman had to go to the locker room to get repairs but returned to the ice.

– 19-year old rookie Tom Wilson had a strong period, getting into good position for two shot attempts.

– The goal by the Rangers’ Aaron Asham came as a result of Mike Green getting caught in the Rangers’ end after a rush, but it’s a shot Braden Holtby should have had. You can’t let Asham beat you on a snap shot from the top of the circle, but Holtby whiffed with his glove hand, which made it a 1-0 game after 20 minutes.

– The second period was an unmitigated disaster for the Caps. As soon as the power play that carried over from the first expired, you could see the wind escape from the sails. Both New York goals came as a result of the Caps simply not being able to control the puck in their defensive end, wilting to the relentless forecheck of the Rangers’ lesser-known players. The second goal, Eminger to Dorsett to Pyatt, might be the least offensively gifted goal in a Game 7 in NHL history. There’s no excuse.

– Ribeiro, Fehr and Brouwer was the forward line on the ice for both New York goals in the second period.

– If you give up goals to Aaron Asham (2 goals in 27 games), Taylor Pyatt (6 goals in 48 games) and Mike Del Zotto (3 goals in 46 games), you kind of deserve to lose.

– I’m shocked Holtby didn’t get lifted after the third goal. Oates had every right. His team needed a jump, Holtby wasn’t tracking the puck well, and a 3-0 hole in Game 7 is a dramatic enough excuse. But Oates stuck with Holtby, reinforcing Holtby’s unquestioned status as the No. 1 goalie in town — for better or worse.

– I don’t even know how to describe the New York goal 13 seconds into the fourth period. Erskine way too nonchalant with a soft pass up the boards. No speed to get back. Holtby might as well not even had a stick as he was flailing it about purposeless, allowing a soft backhand to beat him with what was a three-goal deficit. Pathetic.

– To show the big difference between these two teams, the Caps played most of the third period at half-speed, just trying to get the game to end, while the Rangers were still using their bodies to block shots on the Caps’ late power play. It’s in their DNA — both ways.

We’ll have a season recap soon. But for now, hang in there Caps fans. They did some good things this season. Adam Oates looks like a keeper. And Ovi rediscovered who he was. The change of division next season will add to the excitement, even if it seems so far away.

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Washington Capitals Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 6 Recap: Lundqvist shuts out Caps to force Game 7

May 13, 2013 by

If you’re a fan of the Washington Capitals, you had to have figured it would come to this.

The New York Rangers — facing elimination in their own building — drew five power plays to the Caps none, their world class goalie played up to his legendary status, and one bad bounce — a deflection off his own defenseman — slipped past Braden Holtby, and the Caps fell to the Rangers 1-0, forcing an all-deciding Game 7 at Verizon Center Monday night at 8:00 pm.

Derick Brassard, a thorn in the Caps side all series long, was credited with the lone tally of the game — a slap shot from the high slot that deflected off Steve Oleksy’s glove at the top of the crease and caromed past Holtby midway through the second period.

The Capitals did not play particularly well for long stretches of this game, had trouble mounting a consistent offensive attack and, at times, had trouble getting out of their own end due to New York’s relentless forecheck.

But the story of this game, unfortunately, was the officiating. Referees Brad Watson and Marc Joannette called five penalties in the game before the final horn, and all five were against the Capitals. Two of the calls — against Jack Hillen and Mike Green — were for retaliation after a Rangers player instigated the rough play. Another — Eric Fehr’s elbowing call — seemed to actually come as a result of the Ranger player’s own gloved hand making contact with his face — if at all – after the two players collided shoulder-to-shoulder.

There have been two instances in this Stanley Cup Playoffs of the home team receiving all of the power play opportunities in the game. Watson and Joannette were the referees in both contests. That the Caps were ale to kill all five penalties is a testament to their renewed proficiency in the penalty kill — and the Rangers ineptness on their power play. New York is just 2-for-26 with a man advantage in the six games in this series alone. In contrast, the Caps have been successful on three of the 14 power play opportunities they’ve had in the series.

None of this should come to make light of the job Henrik Lundqvist — or Braden Holtby, for that matter — did between the pipes in Game 6. Both goalies were outstanding; Holtby early during the multiple power plays the Rangers had in the first period and Lundqvist particularly late, when the hard-charging Caps had the better of play 5-on-5, and then 6-on-5 in the last 80 seconds of the game when coach Adam Oates pulled Holtby for the extra skater.

It should also not be disregarded that the Capitals should have figured out a way to play physical without taking the retaliatory penalties. If the Caps fail to hold home ice advantage Monday night and lose this series, the biggest story from the Capitals side will have been their inability to stay out of the penalty box the entire series.

That being said, the Caps played a man down for long chunks of Game 6 and it disrupted their line combinations, offensive attack and game plan.

The Rangers were awarded their first power play at 10:01 of the first period. Replays showed Jack Hillen received a blatant and intentional “chicken wing” style elbow to the side of his head by Rangers’ captain Ryan Callahan. Hillen responded with a hard cross-check to Callahan’s chest and was whistled for roughing. The call itself is dubious, as NBC’s color analyst Pierre McGuire described it: “I’m not sure that’s a penalty. I think that’s more of a ‘Captain of the New York Rangers on home ice against a young man out of Colorado College in Jack Hillen’ and that’s one of those where the veteran got more of a break.”

NBC never showed the play that instigated Hillen to retaliate though. However, TSN’s coverage did pick up the elbow, and you can make up your own mind to the nature of it.

Six minutes later, the delay-of-game bug bit the Caps again, with this time normally reliable defenseman Karl Alzner guilty of the infraction. As the Caps were in the process of killing that penalty, Eric Fehr and Brassard came together in front of the Rangers bench. Both players braced for impact and they collided shoulder to shoulder. Fehr, the taller player, followed through and got the better of the impact, with Brassard flailing wildly to the ice. But upon closer inspection, it appears that Fehr’s elbow never did make contact with Brassard and if anything, Brassard’s own gloved hand nicked him as he reeled from the collision.

Regardless, the dramatic fall that Brassard took — along with the heavy hit Fehr doled out — resulted in a 5-on-3 situation (the third of the series, all favoring the Rangers) as the frame wound down, which the Caps killed off deftly.

The third period saw two more calls go the home team’s way. On the first, Joel Ward was called for cross-checking a Rangers back-checking forward into the Rangers goal. Both players had speed and Ward got a good piece of contact. Had the hit happened at open ice, I don’t think anyone would have thought about it, but the Rangers forward went careening into the goal, knocking it from its moorings. Again, the hit was shoulder-to-shoulder, but Ward got sent off for a cross-check.

The final infraction came against Mike Green for a cross-check. He earned it, going two-handed across Derek Dorsett’s mouth, drawing blood on his top and bottom of Dorsett’s mouth. But the play that precipitated the retaliation this time was Dorsett’s check on Green — a dangerous “slew-foot” type maneuver — that so incensed Green to go after Dorsett. After the game, several Capitals’ players talked about what they perceived as the dirty play by Dorsett, a lesser-skilled player on the ice primarily to instigate and “stir the pot.”

Via Capitals Insider: “The one that we all had a problem with, obviously, was the one on Greenie. That’s a play that should be reviewed,” goaltender Braden Holtby said. “It’s only because Greenie’s world-class, one of the best skaters in the world, that he didn’t fall on his back there. It’s a dirty slew foot and we’re short-handed from it. That’s the only one I think any of us have a problem with.”

As a testament to the physical nature of play in the series, and the escalating ugliness throughout Game 6, after the final horn sounded all 11 skaters on the ice came together in the corner to the right of Lundqvist and engaged in some more extra-curricular activity, which ended up with Green on the ice prone, trying to protect his head. Both teams were assessed two roughing minors: John Carlson and Troy Brouwer for Washington, and Derek Stepan and Dan Girardi for New York.

All of this sets up what should be a tense, physical, dramatic Game 7 Monday night at Verizon Center at 8:00 pm. Neither team has a particularly good history in this situation. The Caps are 2-6 at home in Game 7s, the Rangers are 0-5 on road in Game 7s. One organization’s tortured fan base is going to be able to cling to a ridiculous “curse” after Monday night, but you can rest assured those numbers mean nothing to the players.

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FIRST TAKE, GAME 6: Lundqvist stymies Caps; Game 7 Monday

May 12, 2013 by

Henrik Lundqvist stopped every shot that made it through to him, and the New York Rangers escaped Game 6 with a 1-0 win over the Washington Capitals. The Caps were hindered all day by killing penalties, as the refs awarded five power plays to the Rangers but none to the Caps. Regardless, the Caps weren’t able to find an answer for Lundqvist, forcing the seemingly inevitable Game 7 at Verizon Center.

– Though outshot (due to accumulation of power plays for the Rangers) in the first period, the Caps had the much better of play at 5-on-5, penning the Rangers in there zone on multiple occasions.

– Caps had better of play in a rough first 20 minutes, but they were unable to find a way to play physical without going to the box. Both Hillen and Fehr penalties came when physical confrontation was 50/50. Caps lost the whistle in both those occasions at MSG. On the Fehr penalty, it looked like the hit was shoulder to shoulder and the Rangers player hit himself in the mouth with is own elbow.

– Ovechkin lazy on defense? Not in the first period, where on back-to-back shifts he filled the goal crease during a scrum on the far post, then blocked two shots in a sequence when Caps were forced to deal with defensive zone face-off after an icing.

– Obviously, a huge penalty kill at the end of the period with Alzner off for delay of game and then Fehr joining him on the roughing. Killing almost a minute of 5-on-3 then the rest of it is a big boost of morale.

– Rangers scored on a deflection off Oleksy’s glove on a shot from the high slot by Brassard. On the replay, it looked like Holtby had it tracked all the way until the last second deflection. Looked like Oleksy tried to punch at it and just didn’t get enough of it to push it off goal.

– Energized by their tally, Rangers really had the best of play in the last eight minutes of the second. Holtby made several huge saves, including a sequence when he lost his stick, to keep the Caps within one goal. Ovechkin had a couple of chances in the frame only to be denied by Lundqvist.

– The third period was furious, including about 80 seconds of 6-on-4, but Lundqvist was equal every time the Caps got one through.

– Hard to believe the Rangers didn’t commit a penalty in Game 6, but they were not called for one, while getting the benefit of five power plays. Caps are fortunate that the Rangers power play is inept (0-for-5 in the game, 2-for-26 in the series), but fighting off power plays will take its toll — and keep Alex Ovechkin off the ice.

Game 7 is Monday night at 8:00 pm at Verizon Center.

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FIRST TAKE, GAME 5: Ribeiro goes to the bakery to win Game 5 in overtime

May 10, 2013 by

What, you expected something else in Game 5? No chance, as a crummy start turned into a dominant performance by the Washington Capitals, only to see them frustrated time and again by Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers. But the Caps had the last laugh, as Mike Ribeiro swept home a rebound in overtime to give the Caps a three games to two lead in the Quarterfinals matchup.

– The Caps could not have played worse in the first period. Outshot 10-8, and only a flurry at the end of the frame made it that close. But the chances were heavily in the Rangers favor. Bad penalties, defensive breakdowns and spotty puck possession. A total breakdown by John Erskine and Nick Backstrom allowed Brian Boyle to drift to the top of the crease to bang home a nice pass from Derek Brassard just 53 second into the game. Brassard has been the Rangers best offensive player in the series.

– Jason Chimera was laying the leather in the first couple of periods, and the hit he laid on Ryan Clowe behind the Caps net — which he received two minutes for roughing — knocked Clowe from the game. He skated one more shift and was done for the night.

– The Caps finally got a power play in the second period after Boyle whacked Mike Ribeiro across the back of the legs, and they made the Rangers pay for it. A beautiful tic-tac-toe from Backstrom-to-Johansson-to-Ward in the slot made it 1-1 at 7:44.

– Based on the Rangers having four power plays to the Caps’ one after two periods, Matt Hendricks led both teams with seven blocked shots after two.

– Through two periods, the Caps held a 40-19 advantage in shots attempts in 5-on-5 play, but the SOG total was 15-14 Rangers.

– The Caps owned the third period. Owned. But no goal.

– Ribeiro went to the right spot for the game-winner, earning that position with some uncharacteristic physical play. Eric Fehr did a great job keeping the play alive. He had a great game. Good work with Alzner getting the puck toward the net as well. Good things come when you shoot the puck.

– Ribs was a monster in the face-off circle, going 19-for-27 (70%) overall and 9-for-10 in the defensive zone. Monster.

Game 6 is Sunday at 4:30 pm at Madison Square Garden. Make sure you take your heart medicine between now and then.

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Washington Capitals Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game 4: Too little, too late as Rangers tie series

May 8, 2013 by

After a strong effort but a defeat at the hands of the New York Rangers Monday night, the Capitals played their weakest game of the series so far, and after spotting the Rangers the lead. Despite a late finish, Washington couldn’t quite recover and saw their 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals evaporate in two games at Madison Square Garden.

Mental lapses dogged the Capitals again on Wednesday, as Braden Holtby’s ill-advised turnover, Jason Chimera’s needless penalty after Washington fought back to tie it and other defensive breakdowns were costly, as New York controlled most of the first 50 minutes and then the Capitals couldn’t pull even with a late kick.

Washington now faces a best-of-three series – with three games in four days – to advance to the next round of the postseason. If they don’t, they likely will remember the squandered lead they lost early this week in Manhattan.

The Rangers got on the board first last in the third period when a bad Holtby clear through the middle of the ice was intercepted by Taylor Pyatt. Hagelin picked up the loose puck and fired, but John Carlson blocked the shot attempt, but Holtby slid through the crease and past the net, allowing Brad Richards to deposit the puck in the empty net with 3:35 left in the first.

Just 2:01 after the Richards tally, Washington got a power play on a Michael Del Zotto penalty, but at the tail end of the advantage, a collision of Alex Ovechkin, Martin Erat and Ryan Callahan resulted in a pair of Washington penalties and a 5-on-3 to end the first period for New York.

Erat left the game after he lost his glove and slid into the cage, and the Caps had more penalty problems after Monday’s early issues.

However, the Capitals were able to kill off the remainder of the two-man advantage at the start of the second, but New York carried the momentum generated by the advantage, outshooting Washington 18-7 five minutes into the frame.

New York took advantage of that surge as Carl Hagelin blasted a pass in the top corner to give the Rangers their first two-goal lead of the series with 10:13 gone in the second.

Although Washington remained flat for most of the frame, Joel Ward gave the Capitals some life late in the second. Ward made a nifty move down the side towards the cage, deking around a sliding Michael Del Zotto and the corner of the net, then fed Matthieu Perreault who was parked at the side of the net for the Capitals’ first goal with 6:52 left in the period.

Washington then got the equalizer in the final seconds of the second thanks to Troy Brouwer, as he broke in with the puck into the Rangers zone and backhanded a shot past Lundqvist with just :18 left in the second period.

Despite being outplayed for most of the contest, the Capitals headed into the second intermission tied 2-2 even though they were outshot 26-15 through 40 minutes. However, a Chimera penalty at the end of the second proved costly early in the third.

With the power play to start the third and looking to turn the tide, New York did, as Dan Girardi used the man advantage to blast a puck past Holtby just 59 seconds into the third.

The momentum generated by the early goal carried over into the frame, as the Capitals were caught scrambling around in their own end and Derek Stepan was left alone by the net and put the puck past Holtby for a 4-2 lead.

Karl Alzner pulled the Capitals to within one just 1:29 later, putting a fluttering shot that deflected off Perreault past Lundqvist to make it 4-3.

However, despite some late pressure, the Capitals couldn’t overcome their early mistakes and now are tied 2-2, with Game 5 Friday at Verizon Center.

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FIRST TAKE, GAME 4: Caps with clunker on the road; series even coming back to DC

May 8, 2013 by

The Washington Capitals were out shot, out hit, out played by the New York Rangers and only lost by one. Regardless, they lost, by a 4-3 count. This series is tied at 2 heading back to D.C.

– The Caps had two opportunities with the extra-man in the first period and the troubles they had at the end of Game 3 carried over. With the Rangers all but daring Ribeiro and Backstrom to shoot the puck, overplaying Ovechkin and Green, there was precious little puck movement and few quality chances. They got two shots on goal on the two power plays combined.

– Braden Holtby loves to play the puck, and this time he paid for it. It wasn’t so much coming out of his goal to play the puck — that probably wasn’t the worst thing he could do there. But instead of safely playing up the left wing wall, where John Erskine was waiting without a Ranger to defend, Holtby chose for the home run pass across the crease to the right wing side. Inexcusable.

– The coincidental minors at the end of the period was, simply, a joke. Erat earned the hooking call when Stepan got a step on the winger. But the “charging” call Ovechkin received was bunk. At full speed, the play looked dangerous and all, but the fact of the matter is Ovechkin clipped Stepan when he was off-balance, leading to the collision. Ovechkin didn’t target the head, there was in fact no contact with the head, and there was no reason for the second penalty other than the spectacular looking collision.

– At the time of the Rangers second goal in the second period, they were outshooting the Caps 21-8. Yup.

– Great effort by both Jason Chimera, to win the puck along the boards and pay the price on the hit by Eminger, and Ward with the skill move around the fallen defense, to get the puck to Perreault on the far post for the Caps first goal.

– Beauty backhand by Brouwer on the tying goal, but credit to Ribeiro — without his stick — and Mike Green at the point for keeping the offensive zone. The goal was a culmination of all four lines consecutively keeping possession in the Rangers end. It was the first succession of puck possession for the Caps all game and it resulted in the tying goal.

– On the power play caused by a needless cross-check by Chimera at the end of the second period, Holtby didn’t respect Dan Girardi from the point, half-playing the long shot and he paid for it. Holtby made some incredible saves in this one, but just as many poor ones.

– The Caps top line was caught on the ice on an icing play, could not get the puck out of their own end on the ensuing face-off and the result was the Rangers fourth goal.

– Despite a valiant final 12 minutes when the Caps owned play, they just couldn’t find the equalizer after the two early third period goals. The better team on the ice Wednesday night won.

It was a clunker on the road. Let it go. Step back off the ledge. Game 5 is back at Verizon Center Friday night. Doesn’t get much bigger than that.

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First Take Game 3: Rangers hold on late to hold serve in Game 3

May 6, 2013 by

They say a series hasn’t really started until a home team loses. Well, we still don’t have a series. The New York Rangers edged the Washington Capitals, 4-3, to win Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Some thoughts:

– Alex Ovechkin was whistled for a roughing penalty less than two minutes into the game. Ryan Callahan took one a couple of minutes later. Both calls were weak, most likely the result of officials trying to manage the contact in the game after the fiasco that the Montreal-Ottawa game the other night turned out to be. Neither team was successful on the resulting power plays.

– Steve Oleksy had a great stick lift on Callahan on one of the Rangers three power plays in the first period, most likely preventing a goal. He’s really surprised many with his play this season, joining the team as an unheralded journeyman but developing into a trusted blueliner for Adam Oates, Calle Johansson and the Caps.

– Backstrom’s tip for the Caps first period goal was a tremendous feat of hand-eye coordination, and a good job by John Carlson for getting the puck headed toward the net on a broken play.

– Braden Holtby lost the post on Brian Boyle’s short-side tally for the Rangers, but Mike Green didn’t do Holtby any favors on how he tried to play defense on the play. Green kind of squatted in Boyle’s passing lane, but wasn’t in any position to react when Boyle went hard to the post. It left Holtby trying to play the shot and the pass. His defender has to take away one of those options for the puck-carrier.

– The Rangers had the better of play early in the second, thanks to three straight Caps penalties, and their power play goal by Brassard was a result of it. But the Caps withstood most of the Rangers good play, then once they got back to even strength got the better of the Rangers, using good old-fashioned board work. Eric Fehr and Jason Chimera winning the puck along the boards out to Mathieu Perreault, who found a streaking Green for his second goal in as many games.

– Twice in the third period the Rangers took advantage of the Caps not being able to get out of their own end. Two extended periods of puck control and the Caps defense was eventually going to break down. It did.

– In that last power play as time expired, the Caps could not manage a shot on goal in 1:54 — playing 6-on-4.

– Though they got the last man-advantage, the Caps took six minor penalties. That’s way too many, plain and simple, regardless of the dubious nature of a couple of them. Caps outshot Rangers 30-18 at even strength, so they pretty much owned play at even strength. You can be sure Adam Oates will emphasize that point the next couple of days.

– Henrik Lundqvist, despite giving up three goals, led the Rangers in this win. He made several remarkable saves when the Caps were buzzing.

Game Four is Wednesday at 7:30 pm from Madison Square Garden.

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Washington Capitals Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game 3: Capitals can’t grab 3-0 series lead

May 6, 2013 by

The Capitals had a golden opportunity to take a 3-0 stranglehold on their first-round series against the Rangers, but a slew of early penalties and a lack of success on their own power play late cost them Game 3 in a 4-3 loss at Madison Square Garden Monday night.

Although the Caps dominated 5-on-5 play for a bulk of the contest, the Rangers – sensing an urgent need to take the contest to have any chance in the series – scored twice in the third to grab the win. Derek Stephan tipped in a Rick Nash shot with just 6:25 left in regulation for the eventual game-winner.

The Caps had a chance late with an extra-man advantage for the game’s final 1:54, but Washington was a bit too passive even with a 6-on-4 and never really got a good chance for the equalizer on Henrik Lundqvist. Instead of shooting, they held the puck, and as a result, couldn’t force overtime.

Washington let a golden chance for a quick series win to vanish as a result, as the Capitals now will have to try and settle for a series split Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, with at least one more game in Washington now on tap for Friday night at Verizon Center.

The night started off well for Washington, as the Caps broke out in front just 4:06 into the game, as Nicklas Backstrom tipped a John Carlson shot past Lundqvist to give the Caps their first first-period lead of the series.

However, after Washington couldn’t convert on a power play shortly after, Joel Ward took a high-sticking minor in the defensive zone – in a flashback to last year’s Game 5 – and the Rangers scored as the minor expired to even the game as Brian Boyle to even the game.

The goal was the Rangers’ first since the first period of Game 1, breaking Braden Holtby’s shutout streak at 124:06, and also was the first goal directly off a Rangers stick in the series.

New York went up just 83 seconds into the second, scoring 8 seconds into a tripping penalty on Holbty as Darick Brassard rifled one past the Capitals netminder. Washington’s penalty-killers were put to the test over the first half of the period, giving up two more minor penalties, but were able to stay within one.

Once the penalty parade subsided, the Capitals were strong at even-strength over the remainder of the middle period, generating one power play and eventually a Mike Green equalizer, as he shot a blast past Lundqvist.

The Rangers, sensing the importance of winning the third period, came out fast in the third, and Aaron Asham caught the Capitals’ defense out of position and beat Holtby just 2:53 into the frame and gave the hosts the lead back.

Washington responded 4:22 later, as Jack Hillen’s shot from the point was tipped by Jay Beagle past Lundqvist, bringing the Capitals even and putting pressure on the Rangers.

New York pressed again after the equalizer, and were able to retake the lead with 6:25 left in regulation, as Derek Stepan tipped in a Rick Nash shot for a 4-3 lead for the hosts.

The Capitals got a late chance with 1:54 left in regulation as Brad Richards caught Alex Ovechkin under his visor for Washington’s third power-place chance of the evening. But Washington played a bit to casually with the power play and failed to convert with a chance to force overtime.

Washington has never held a 3-0 series lead in a best-of-seven series, and now are 0-8 in that situation, as the Capitals will look to earn the split Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

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Instant Analysis Game 2: GAME OVER GREEN; Caps take 2-0 series lead

May 4, 2013 by

Game Over Green. The Washington Capitals take a 2-0 series lead over the New York Rangers in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinal matchup with a 1-0 overtime win, as Mike Green’s bomb from the high slot deflected off a Rangers’ skate past Henrik Lundqvist for the game winner.

Some thoughts:

– The Caps had to figure the Rangers would come out with more fire in the first period after dropping Game 1, and they did. The Caps did a good job killing off the Rangers power play in the middle of the period and overall was solid withstanding the Rangers early assault. The Caps looked a little sleepy on offense to start but they brought the physical game to match New York, especially the captain, whose check on Carl Hagelin set the tone for him.

– Marcus Johansson had a golden opportunity to break the scoreless tie early in the second. Playing four-on-four, Alex Ovechkin hit Johansson at the far post and he had an open net, but instead of simply sweeping the puck to the net, Johansson tried to stick handle, giving both Henrik Lundqvuist and Ryan McDonough a chance to recover and ultimately Lunqvist made the save from a prone position.

– Toward the end of the second, the Caps put on a good bit of pressure against Lundqvist but couldn’t get one to drop. The best chance came from Nick Backstrom on a nice criss-crossing feed rom Johansson to Ovechkin to Backstrom at the far post. Backstrom’s shot seemed to glance off Lundqvist’s right skate and into the corner harmlessly.

– The Caps did a pretty good job on Rick Nash all afternoon, until about 3:45 left, when Nash won a battle at center ice, split a couple of Caps D and walked in on Holtby. Troy Brouwer slashed from behind and was able to hold Nash just enough to keep him from getting a great shot off. Still, Nash hit the pipe then almost bounced the rebound in. The penalty to Brouwer earned the Rangers a two-minute advantage, but the Caps were strong again on the kill, not allowing a single shot to go through to Holtby.

– The teams traded delay of game penalties in the third, but like the rest of the first two games, the Caps had the better of play during special teams.

– Once again: Braden Holtby. He made a couple of careless plays with the puck in the first period, but after that was impenetrable. He’s building quite a Stanley Cup Playoff resume.

Game 3 is Monday night from Madison Square Garden at 7:30 pm. It’s a lot nicer to go in there 2-0 instead of 1-1.

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Instant Analysis: Capitals take best of play to the Rangers in Game 1

May 2, 2013 by

If Game 1 is any indication, this is going to be a hell of a series.

The Washington Capitals used pressure in all three zones of the ice to neutralize the New York Rangers best players, most notably Rick Nash, to come up with an impressive 3-1 win in the first game of this Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Some thoughts:

– Given enough opportunities from the Rangers, the power play finally hit for the Caps first goal of the game. The Rangers did a good job on the first couple of Caps power plays, taking away the low post game between Mike Ribeiro, Nick Backstrom and Troy Brouwer in the slot.

How do combat that? Shoot from the point, which is precisely what Mike Green did on the Caps’ fourth extra-man advantage. Green’s bomb was off target, but it got Henrik Lundqvist moving, and Alex Ovechkin was able to corral the rebound and put it past the scrambling Lundqvist.

– The Caps power play was strong all night, but never bigger than during the 5-on-3 in the second period. Already a man down, Eric Fehr lost his stick. He blocked one shot without the twig, but in a goal line scramble he was forced to push Rangers around, and was called for an interference when he shoved Ryan Callahan down with a push in the chest.

First Johansson, then Backstrom, with Alzner and Carlson on the back line, turned away the Rangers for 57 seconds, then killed the rest of the 5-on-4 to the roars of the Verizon Center faithful.

– Using the momentum gained from the huge penalty kill, the Caps scored twice — 46 seconds apart — just a couple of minutes later, seizing control of the scoreboard.

– Things got chippy at the end of the second period, and continued late in the third and after the final horn, when Callahan and Troy Brouwer had words and slapped their sticks at each other as the teams were headed off the ice. Brouwer had words for Michael Del Zotto a couple of times during the game when the Caps forward took exception to an after-the-whistle poke by Del Zotto earlier in the game.

– Braden Holtby was sublime. The only Rangers goal came when an intended pass by Carl Hagelin bounced off John Erskine’s skate. Other than that, the Caps young netminder was stellar, making 35 saves in the win. His biggest save came with 4:03 left. On a two-on-one, John Moore slapped a bouncing puck toward Holtby’s blocker side which looked as if it hit the post and rebounded into Holtby’s equipment.

The play went to video review and the call of “no goal” stood. Regardless, Holtby got to the far post in time to get in front of the puck and keep the score at 3-1 as time wound down.

– The Caps rolled all four lines all night long. That’s good in the short term for Adam Oates, as it lets his entire roster know he has confidence in every single one of them. It’s also good in the long-term, especially if the series goes a long way as everyone expects it to.

Game 2 is Saturday afternoon at 12:30 pm Eastern (9:30 am Pacific).

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