Passed. After being unable to score in Game 1 of their first-round series despite dominating play against the New York Rangers, who rallied to tie the game late in the third period to force overtime. After 1 minute 36 seconds left in overtime, a shot by Alexander Semin looted gave them a 2-1 victory.
The case tight, low-skilled with the pressure on both Henrik Lundqvist (31 saves) and Michal Neuvirth (24) that mounts with each passing minute may have been a preview of things to come in the series. Both capital and Rangers take their defense seriously and does not allow a large number of targets on a consistent basis.
So if there's a lesson for Washington, who has scored only three goals in his last 13 times against New York, to learn from Game 1 of this series is to seize the early opportunities.
Wednesday night at a sold-out Verizon Center, which reached new decibel levels of fervor, however, the Herculean Rangers resisted a push from Washington to finally seize the moment of their own. New York, struck first, after more than two periods of scoreless play, a shot by Matt Gilroy beat a Neuvirth designed for a 1-0 lead at 1 minute and 56 seconds in the third.
The goal was deflating at least, demoralizing and a reminder of the style of play of the Montreal Canadiens used to hit the capital in the first round last year at worst. And silenced the previously raucous crowd that rocked the red.
The Capitals brought together before New York extended the lead to stay with their game plan. With just over six minutes remaining in regulation, Alex Ovechkin and Semin and beat Lundqvist invaded fold away in a bare disc near Swedish goalie skates.
Ovechkin managed to push over the finish line before the net was knocked off its moorings and set off a celebration. The play was reviewed, but the ultimate goal, standing, tying the game at 13:44 the third period and ultimately caused the sudden death portion.
Washington carried the play for most of the first period, but at the conclusion of the first 20 minutes without any tangible advantage over the Rangers, only leadership in energy and physical.
Just past the five-minute mark, Neuvirth went from right to left to stretch a toe to save on Erik Christensen, but that was one of the few significant was forced to make saves in the first half of the competition. Shortly after recording, the funds were in his power play first game with the Rangers committed too many men on the ice.
In man advantage opportunities were plentiful, but none related, including a very open, a timer from the slot by Marco Sturm high Lundqvist who has enough of his glove to deflect the puck in the net above the glass.
Even after the penalty expired, Washington increased the intensity against the Rangers with three hits on the rise in succession by Ovechkin, Jason Arnott and John Erskine.
Another power play in the middle of the period was the same with Mike KNUBLE range of possibilities as the disk bounced beyond the crease and Lundqvist made a soft glove save on a shot from Mike Green. The player, defender Capital 25:56 and recorded four shots in his first game after missing 20 straight games with a concussion he suffered Feb. 25 when he was elbowed in the head of the Rangers Stephen Derek.
The Capitals continued to control possession in the opening period, but two main possibilities seen in the cross score Clank - shot by Semin and Arnott - just 18 seconds apart.
Although Washington could not produce an advantage on the scoreboard at the height of the energy carried in the second period. The Rangers began to mine little by little, however, doing a better job of clogging the neutral zone until finally created some chances of their own.
Mixed with the Capitals' dominance of the competition was that it seemed only a matter of time before New York found some offensive and was standing just under eight minutes into the second. Rangers right wing Marian Gaborik received directly supply while monitoring and in front of the net for Washington, but Neuvirth made the stop, squeezing hard on the chest, to keep the contest scoreless.
Although New York began to minimize the amount of time he spent in his own zone, the best chance of the middle period came when Nicklas Backstrom Ovechkin sprung free for a chance to breakaway with less than four minutes remaining. Backstrom tried to go five hole with a bribe, but the shot hit the inside of the right leg jets Lundqvist and width of the cage.
As the game progressed, he began to get a little chippie shoving matches between dail whistles and small around the net when goalkeeper made a save.
Source :
washingtonpost
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