NEW YORK – The New York Rangers were coming off a hard fought seven-game series with the Ottawa Senators this week. Likewise the Caps were entering this second round after a tight series with the Bruins that ended earlier in the week in Boston on an OT goal.
Both teams could be forgiven for being a bit slow off the draw for Saturday afternoon’s matinee.
The contest featured a red hot goalie versus a seasoned veteran with Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist facing starting in the nets.
It was Holtby who blinked first in this match when the Rangers netted their first goal of the series in the second period. Artem Anizimov took a puck from behind the Caps cage and drove for the left post with the Caps’ Mike Green draped over his back like a top coat. Anizimov drove the net anyway and wrapped the puck through Holtby’s pads for the 1-0 lead. The goal came at 12:38 of the second.
The Caps made their way to the locker room with the match tied when Brooks Larch sent a perfect saucer pass to Jason Chimera streaking down the left wing. Chimera needed only to put his stick blade on the puck to redirect it past Lundqvist who seeme3d to fan on the shot. The goal came with just four seconds left in the middle frame.
The Madison Square Garden crowd fed off the energy from the Rangers and in turn lifted the club. With both teams sparring the first few minutes of the third it was the Rangers’ Chris Kreider who sent the home fans into a frenzy. Reading the play in the defensive zone and seeing an opportunity to press the Caps, Kreider put on a burst of speed that left the Caps pressing defensemen in his wake. He took a perfect breakout pass from Derek Stepan in the neutral zone and raced to the high slot where he launched what appeared to be an off speed shot that fooled Holtby badly for the go-ahead and eventual game winning goal.
Just 90 seconds later Brad Richards gave New York some breathing room with a shot that abused Holtby down low. Richards’ goal was set up by Kreider off a scrum in the far near corner.
From there the Rangers and Lundqvist went into their defensive scheme and gave Washington little chance to get back in the game.
For the Rangers, Steve Eminger made his playoff debut for the Rangers, playing forward as opposed to his usual defense position with Brian Boyle and Brandon Dubinsky out injured.
Contact LM.Davis@prohockeynews.com
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