Sucky to SPECTACULAR! Caps Win!!!

HUGE win last night in double OT! One could argue it was a must win game for both teams. The Rangers were fighting to tie the series. Whereas the Caps were looking to take the commanding 3-1 series lead against the #8 seed and try and get out of this first round quickly.

Since Game 3, the Caps were talking that the Rangers came out in Game 3 knowing that they needed a win and that they pushed harder and that it was now our time to push back. The coaches and players and D.C. reporters were all talking that we needed more intensity and that it would be coming. However, that intensity only lasted about 2-3 minutes of the first period. After that, we were just outplayed and outhustled.

The first period was pretty even with neither side getting great scoring opportunities. There was talk after Game 3 about avoiding bad penalties and we took a couple which fortunately didn't hurt other than we were on PK and not able to attack.

The second period was abysmal. We were thoroughly outplayed. We couldn't muster any quality offensive chances and what was worse we looked like a team without any passion or intensity and seemed to just be standing around watching. Consequently, the Rangers jumped out to a 3-0 advantage. Their first goal pretty lucky as it was thrown in front of the net and bounced off of someone slipping by Neuvy. The second goal was a quality goal that Neuvy had no chance of stopping and their third one came just 7 seconds later and was very angering because we just looked like we stopped playing and just watched them score the goal. At that point, the crowd was in a frenzy with fans yelling disparaging remarks at Boudreau, and chanting "BOOOOD-REAU!" and then yelling in unison, "Can you hear us?" when the Rangers took over in the second period. This was in response to Boudreau's comments after Game 3 that MSG sucked and their fans weren't that loud. The Caps did show a little life towards the end of the period but it still looked bleak.

Not sure what Boudreau told the guys b/t periods but they certainly came out on the attack. Heading into the third period, the Capitals ditched their defensive-minded ways and ignited the high-flying offense they have long been known for and stormed back to tie it.

Semin started the comeback at 2:47 with a goal that stood up to a brief video replay. Rangers rookie defenseman Ryan McDonagh gave the puck away to Semin in the right circle, and the Capitals forward fired a shot that got past Lundqvist's leg and slid to the goal line. Lundqvist swept it out, but couldn't cover it before Semin put it in again.

Johansson scored his first just 57 seconds later off a pass from the left wing boards from Brooks Laich to him at the right post for a redirection. At that point, there was still 16 minutes remaining and we had ourselves a game. With about 7 minutes remaining, John Carlson fired a slap shot from above the left circle that hit Johansson's hand and caromed past Lundqvist tying the game up 3-3. Regulation finished with that score and on we went to OT.

I felt that OT was largely dominated by the Caps with many more quality scoring opportunities. None better than Ovie's breakaway which would have been a GREAT way to end the game. Unfortunately, he was denied by Lundqvist. I was concerned because while we had stormed back to tie it and we had what I thought were the better opportunities in OT, I was afraid that the Rangers would get that lucky bounce and find the net winning it despite us outplaying them from the third period on.

The game ended up going into double OT and you could really see the players starting to fatigue. I said to my son that this game is going to end on a player making a mistake or a fluke goal caused by fatigue. That's when Jason Chimera took a shot from near the right circle that was blocked in front. Rangers forward Marian Gaborik raced in and tried to clear the puck out of the crease as Lundqvist tried to reach out to freeze the puck. The puck ended up getting swept right to Chimera who dumped it into the ocean for the game winner. AMAZING!!!

It was a series defining victory. For the Rangers, it will be hard to come back from that one. Being up 3-0 going into the third period and looking to tie the series only to blow it and lose in double OT will be tough to come back from. For the Caps, they needed the win especially after tying the score in regulation. Losing in OT would not have brought any moral victory. In fact, it would have been even more maddening knowing the stakes going into the game and playing so poorly the first two periods. So it was good that they found a way to win.

A couple of side notes:

1. After the Caps had fallen down 3-0 in the second period, my 7 year old son wanted to watch a kids show that he had DVRed. I told him no way and he said, "Why? We are going to lose anyway." I said no because we are watching the game. He's on Spring Break so I let him stay up and watch the game with me and when it was over, I told him about his earlier transgressions and how he said the game was over and we would lose. He chuckled but a good lesson to never count a team out.

Actually, it reminded me of a time in high school where me and a few friends went to a Caps playoff game and I believe they were taking on the Rangers. We had a 2 or 3 goal lead late in the game and while the crowd was excited, Scott wanted to leave to avoid the traffic. I said, "No way, man!" The Rangers ended up coming back to tie it sending it to OT where none other than, Rod Langway, found the net to win it in sudden death. This is playoff hockey where history will be made and anything can happen.

2. After the Caps second goal, I raised my hands and yelled in excitement. My 19 month old daughter who was a few feet away from me playing with some toy, turned and looked and put her arms up and yelled, "GOAL!" Then she walked over to me with her
arm held up and said, "Five!" We slapped high five and a series of fives were being passed around with all my kids.

The series shifts back to D.C. Saturday afternoon where the Caps have the chance to end the series in front of its home crowd. Would be good to end it and not have it shift back to NY for a Game 6. We need to get out of this series early to get ready for Round 2 and also erase the memories of last year where we had the 3-1 series lead on the Canadiens only to blow the next 3 games and lose. We need to finish the Rangers now.

UNLEASH THE FURY!!!