Capitals 2, Rangers 1 (OT): Mike Ribeiro scored 9:24 into overtime as Washington won its fifth consecutive home postseason contest to take a 3-2 advantage in its Eastern Conference first-round series.
Defenseman Karl Alzner's blast from the point caromed off Troy Brouwer and right to Ribeiro, who made no mistake from the doorstep to whip the Verizon Center into a frenzy.
Joel Ward scored a power-play goal and Braden Holtby finished with 24 saves for the third-seeded Capitals, who won their second overtime decision of the series. Defenseman Mike Green scored exactly eight minutes into the extra session as Washington skated to a 1-0 triumph in Game 2.
Brian Boyle scored 53 seconds into the contest and Derick Brassard had an assist for his sixth point in three games. Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 33 shots for the sixth-seeded Rangers, who will look to stave off elimination on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
New York opened the scoring after Brassard put a centering feed through the legs of Green to Boyle, who converted from the doorstep. Boyle, however, was whistled for a slashing penalty at 7:33 of the second period - and Ward's one-timer from the slot beat Lundqvist just 11 seconds into the power play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington captain Alex Ovechkin joined New York Islanders stud John Tavares and Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby as finalists for the Hart Trophy. Ovechkin is a two-time winner (2008, 2009) of the honor, which is presented to the "player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team." ... Rangers RW Ryane Clowe was on the receiving end of a boarding penalty from LW Jason Chimera. Clowe, who returned after a four-game absence with what was believed to be a concussion, logged just one more shift in the first period and did not return. ... Capitals RW Tom Wilson made his NHL debut and had 6:24 of ice time while skating on the fourth line. Wilson, who was the 16th overall pick of the 2012 draft, played in place of RW Martin Erat (upper-body injury).
NY Rangers | Washington | |
Brian Boyle 1 | Points | Mike Ribeiro 1 |
Brian Boyle 1 | Goals | Mike Ribeiro 1 |
Derick Brassard 1 | Assists | Karl Alzner 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Joel Ward 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Henrik Lundqvist .943 | Save Percentage | Braden Holtby .960 |
Henrik Lundqvist 33 | Saves | Braden Holtby 24 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
NY Rangers | 25 | 1 | 0-4 | 1-2 | 4 | 30 |
Washington | 35 | 2 | 1-2 | 4-4 | 8 | 42 |