Metropolitan Division Preview: Rearmed Washington Capitals Aim for Rangers
May 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) and Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) meet at center ice following the overtime period of game seven of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Rangers narrowly missed elimination in a full series with the Capitals.
Ovechkin scored on the power play to help Washington win 3-2 in Game One. He scored again in Game Two, this time at even strength. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov also lit the lamp but the Rangers flipped the tables winning 3-2 and tying up the series.
Things started going downhill for the Rangers as Washington captured Games Three and Four. Braden Holtby posted a shutout as Jay Beagle scored the only goal in sixty minutes. Andre Burakovsky then scored twice in Game Four for the Caps while Derick Brassard was the only player to score for New York.
New York Rangers
The Blueshirts lacked offense and they were down 3-1 in the series, one loss away from elimination. What were the chances that they would battle back?
Less than two minutes away from being knocked out of the Playoffs, the Rangers were down 1-0 in Game Five. Chris Kreider saved the Rangers with a goal at 18:19 in the third period, sending the teams to overtime. Captain Ryan McDonagh would score after a brutal nine minutes and 37 seconds in OT, giving the Rangers a much needed win.
Kreider continued to dazzle in Game Six, scoring a goal within the first minute of play and scoring again on the man advantage. On the other side, Joel Ward battled hard for the Caps recording one goal and two assists. However the Rangers scraped by once more, winning 4-3.
Washington’s Captain promised to take Game Seven. He made good on his word at first, opening up the scoring. Then Rangers rookie Hayes came along, evening up the score with a power play goal. Still tied after sixty minutes and midway through overtime, a Derek Stepan goal foiled Ovechkin’s plans as the Rangers won Game Seven and the series.
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