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Game Five Recap: McDonagh Wins It In OT to Keep Series Alive

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Third period goals from Curtis Glencross and Chris Kreider less than eight minutes apart had the game tied at one to one through regulation play. Both Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist brought their A games to Madison Square Garden tonight, but ultimately it would be an overtime winner from Ryan McDonagh that brings this series to 3 to 2 games – advantage Washington.

Friday night’s Plus/Minus:

  • Plus: Holtby played lights out this entire game. Would’ve been really nice for his team to close it out for the third period’s final four minutes, but New York’s push proved to be too much.
  • Minus: With a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a single goal in overtime the Capitals could not get the job done. There are two chances ahead of them to finish off the Rangers, but the seed of doubt has been planted.

And now, this…

Ten more notes on the game:

  • The Rangers started tonight’s game possessed, outshooting Washington 11 to 2 after ten minutes of play. While we expected New York to press early their dominance was worrisome, despite them having nothing on the scoreboard to show for it.
  • The Capitals began to press back towards the end of the first and ended up putting 13 shots on goal to New York’s 16. Barry Trotz’s team had a good push back, and nearly found the next behind Lundqvist, but the Swedish netminder was sharp.
  • The Capitals aren’t anywhere close in this game if not for the play of Holtby, especially in the first period’s opening fifteen minutes. The workhorse turned aside 41 New York shots tonight and was the only reason the Capitals and Rangers were tied after the first period.
  • Likewise, Lundqvist had an excellent outing, although he faced far fewer shots (28 saves). Washington will need to get more bodies and rubber to the King’s crease if they’re going to close this series out in Game 6.
  • After forty minutes of scoreless play Glencross got the Capitals on the board with a breakway from the center ice that he pushed past Lundqvist on a second try. With Brooks Laich following Glencross close behind the offensive pressure was too much, and Washington looked poised to clinch the series with only 9:06 left to play.
  • The Rangers had other ideas, however, and as they were pulling Lundqvist for a sixth skater Kreider pinballed a shot from the right faceoff circle past Holtby to tie the game late. With 101 seconds left to play in regulation, the teams were back at square one.
  • Washington began overtime on their heels and allowed the Rangers to dictate play in the extra session. In a little over nine and a half minutes of overtime hockey New York put six shots on goal to Washington’s two. The Rangers’ desperation seemed to kick in, culminating in McDonagh’s winner.
  • While it was great to see Glencross get on the scoresheet, you’d really like to see some of the more familiar names alongside his in “killer instinct” situations. Both Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom put up two shots in over forty-five minutes of ice time.
  • Both team’s power play units went 0 for 2 and, the Rangers’ first period chance aside, none produced too many high quality chances. I have a feeling Game 6 will be decided at five on five, especially given the play of Holtby and Lundqvist.
  • Well, a bit of doubt has crept into Washington’s mindset, but they have the advantage of coming home to ice the series within the comfort of Verizon Center. If there’s any immediate hope for Game 6, it’s that the Rangers are 0 and 2 this series playing in Washington.

Game six will be another nail-biter, although home ice affords Trotz and his team a few comforts not available

to them at the Garden. Here’s to hoping Washington comes out strong and advances the Ovechkin led Capitals to their first ever Eastern Conference Final.

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