WASHINGTON, DC – All of the superlatives that can be found in a thesaurus can be used for Wednesday’s game three between the New York Rangers and Washing ton Capitals. With the series tied at one game apiece, the final came down to an OT goal. Make that a 3 OT goal.
Following a scoreless first period, Ryan Callahan netted a goal for New York on assists from Michael Del Zotto and Marian Gaborik. Callahan was alert on the Del Zotto shot and picked up the rebound and batted it home.
Less than five minutes later John Carlson netted the tying goal with a wicked writer over Henrik Lundqvist’s shoulder glove side.
From that point forward, the game took on characteristics of a “classic”. Regulation was dotted with chances by both clubs but the Rangers’ Lundqvist and the Caps’ Braden Holtby were equal to each quality opportunity that presented itself.
The game became increasingly more exciting with each shift and each thrust from the clubs.
The first overtime set the tone for the rest of the match. Skating was end-to-end with both clubs seemingly throwing caution to the wind. Pipes were hit, cross bars were rung but twine was never tickled by the puck.
The second extra session was equally exciting and equally nerve-wracking for fans of the Caps and Rangers and fans of the sport.
Not often does a game generate as much excitement as this one did. Nor does one see so many players leaving so much on the ice. For the Rangers, Dan Girardi, Brian Boyle and Ryan Callahan were cut, hit with a puck or crushed with a devastating hit respectively.
The third period of extra time was just an extension of the previous 100 minutes of hockey.
Alex Ovechkin hit the post just minutes into the third OT when a shot was deflected that Lundqvist would otherwise have had no chance of stopping.
With about 14 minutes gone in the third session, The puck bouncing in the neutral zone that was corralled by Gaborik who spotted Brad Richards breaking through center ice. Richards dribbled the puck with his skate and stick and shot the puck off the back boards and moved to Girardi who fired the puck back to Richards in the corner to Holtby’s right. Richards did not let the puck sit on his stick long as he simply flicked it to Gaborik who snapped a shot five-hole on Holtby for the game winner.
The game featured good, clean hard-hitting hockey that should have entertained every viewer.
Lundqvist stopped 45 of 46 shots while Holtby was 47 for 49 in the Caps net. The game time was 114.41. The last time the Rangers played a 3 OT game was 29 April 1971 when Pete Stemkowski scored for the Rangers to end that contest against the Chicago Blackhawks.
But it is just one win and the Rangers lead the series 2-1 and the clubs now rest for a few hours and prep for game four on Saturday in Washington.
Contact LM.Davis@prohockeynews.com
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