New York Rangers Take Game Two, Even Series

In game two, the New York Rangers played to the last second, evening the series at one game a piece

2. 19. 3. 95. Final

Here’s how the game played out:

1st Period

The Rangers Blitzkrieg struck early in Game Two.

Not even a minute into the game, the boys in blue got out to a quick lead thanks to the second line. Chris Kreider chipped in a stretch pass from Marc Staal to get the play started. After, Derek Stepan retrieved the puck and put a pass to newly-promoted Jesper Fast who put a shot on goal. Braden Hotlby made the initial save but gave up a rebound that was scooped up by Kreider and slapped it for his second goal of the playoffs. Assists were credited to Fast (1) and Stepan (2).

Just as Game One started for the Rangers, the team was able to utilize their speed to their advantage. Their pursuit of the puck and pushing the puck up ice were noticeable from puck drop. Also, some physicality was sprinkled in for good measure.

However, the Washington Capitals made pushing back and almost scored off of the stick of Alexander Ovechkin. Fortunately, Henrik Lundqvist showed up to the game and stomped out the opportunity by stretching out on the ice. That was just one of his 30 saves in the game.

At the first television timeout, the Rangers were outshooting the Capitals, 9-3, with the play tilted towards the Rangers’ end of the ice.

At 15:40, the Rangers pushed their lead to two goals by way of the less than stellar power play. After a hooking penalty was called on Capitals forward Joel Ward, the Rangers got their second man-advantage of the period. After a skirmish at the Capitals net, a failed clearing attempt by Troy Brouwer where the puck appeared to slow up towards the blue line, Dan Boyle put a shot on goal and found its way past Holtby. Helping to screen the goalie was Rick Nash, who stayed in front after an earlier attempt at stuffing the puck past the Capitals goalie. For Boyle, it was his first goal of the series.

Before the period ended, a charging penalty was called on the Capitals aggressive forward Tom Wilson for charging Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh.

Not to be outdone was Holtby, who was equally as stout in the Capitals net.

In the closing minutes, he stopped prime scoring by the Rangers. One was on Derick Brassard, whom he used his left pad and skate to prevent Brassard from slipping the puck underneath off a rebound from the stick of Nash. The other was on a streaking Kreider, who almost got his second goal of the game after receiving a pass off the side boards from Stepan. Holtby held his ground and denied Kreider’s backhanded attempt.

New York Rangers /

New York Rangers

2nd Period

To open the period, the Rangers had a brief four second power play carried over from the first. However, the team could not extend their lead.

The Capitals tried to push back offensively. In the first, they did not see a whole lot of offensive zone time. However, head coach Barry Trotz may have emphasized to his team in the locker room that then needed play more in their end. And the team responded by putting more shots on goal and testing Lundqvist. More zone time was seen and scoring opportunities developed.

If it came down to the goalies, then both Lundqvist and Holtby came up big for their teams. Holtby kept the game from getting out of control by making timely saves. On the other end, Lundqvist was especially busy in the period. Not just weathering the Capitals offensive storm, but having to make two acrobatic saves. One of those was on a play where he popped the puck up in the air, locating it, and quickly knocking the puck out of mid-air with his blocker. Another came later in the period on a cart-wheel of a save on Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Unfortunately, Lundqvist’s wall was broken at 13:59 of the period. Kuznetsov got his revenge by scoring his fourth goal of the playoffs from a rebound. He started the play by shooting the puck off the back boards, where Jason Chimera put the first shot off Lundqvist’s pads. He kicked out the rebound and Kuznetsov was there to beat him, getting one goal back for the Capitals.

Not to be outdone was Holtby, who was equally as stout in the Capitals net.

3rd Period

To start the last 20 minutes of regulation, play on the ice was more of a defensive style by both teams. Not many scoring chances were taken by either. The Capitals were certainly not playing desperate being one goal down. They remained content in picking their opportunities.

To the contrast, the Rangers remained aggressive with the puck for their third goal of the game. After a strong penalty kill, Martin St. Louis put a soft shot towards the Capitals goal. It somehow found its way past two defenders. Brassard, who missed an earlier shot in the second, scooped up the puck after getting behind the defense. He found Holtby’s five-hole and put a wrist shot between his legs, with Holtby getting a piece of the shot. That gave Brassard his fourth of the playoffs, and assists were credited to St. Louis (2) and Nash (4).

The Capitals brought back the Rangers lead to one goal, thanks to the stick of Ovechkin (4). After getting a pass from Ward, the Capitals captain squeezed between the Rangers defense and roofed a wrist shot, while falling to the ice. The shot had power behind it and got it over the shoulder of Lundqvist. Assists were credited to Ward (4) and Brooks Orpik (2).

Simply, unbelievable.

There was no last second goal for the Capitals, even with the extra-man attack to close the period. This time, the Rangers played to the last horn of the game and won, evening the series at 1-1.

Three Stars of the Game

First Star

: Chris Kreider-one goal, three shots, four hits

Second Star

: Henrik Lundqvist- 30 of 32 saves, .938 save percentage

Third Star

: Alex Ovechkin- one goal, four shots, nine hits

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