After that last game between the Penguins/Lightning i made the decision not to do a full review on this game, so this is just end of period thoughts and goal descriptions. I needed a break after that 8-2 scoreline!!
So off we went with another game 5 that the higher seed was 3-1 up in and on home ice to win it!!
The first period only had the 1 goal and it was the home team who took the lead. Mike Green got it with a powerplay goal at 5.59 of the 1st, stuffing a puck towards the net, a diving Girardi seemingly getting it stuck underneath him and it appearing over the line and in the net.
There were 12 minutes of penalties handed out but 10 of those all came at the same time as the goal, both teams getting tangled up in a bit of after whistle frivolities. Prust / Boyle / Avery were the only line from New York that were bringing it to this game. Gaborik was almost non existant again and no one else was stepping up. The Caps were dominating in what looked to be a defensive game again. They were outshooting the Rangers 13-6 come the end of the period.
Ovechkin got the Caps a 2nd goal 7.04 into the 2nd, beating Staal for pace and holding him off as he went from forehand to backhand to put the puck high past Lundqvist. Despite conceeding 2, Lundqvist still looked impressive. Infact, i think both the netminders in this matchup have been doing well. The Rangers woke up after the 2nd goal had gone in but were still struggling to get a guilt edge opportunity. They had 2 powerplay chances they failed on leaving the PP% around 5% for the series. Washington were still hitting hard and blockng almost everything. Green returned to the bench after having taken a puck to the head in the 1st but saw no ice time. Ovechkin was playing awesome. Shots were 10-6 that period.
The Rangers only had 2 shots in the first 10 minutes of the 3rd - hardly the way to pull back a 2-0 deposit. Washington grew as the period clock ticked down. The crowd were standing everytime the Caps went forward and it was the home team looking the most likely to score.
It was the home team who got their 3rd goal with 3.37 left on the period, Johannson leading a 2 on 1 breakaway, sliding the puck across to Semin to beat Lundqvist short side.
New York did get one with 32 seconds left, Avery getting the puck from behind the net to McCabe. His shot from the point was rebounded by Neuvirth to Wolski's stick and the shut out was broken. A scuffle ensued after the goal was awarded but this was just Rangers frustration at an early playoff exit.
The Rangers best shift of the game was the 1st one of the game and they never emulated that throughout the rest of the game. To be fair, New York had blown this when giving away a 3-0 lead last game and their was no way Washington were going to blow a 3-1 series lead after last year.
Chicago maybe on their way back against Vancouver and Tampa Bay blew out Pittsburgh earlier but the Rangers don't have the offence like those 2 teams so it was always going to be more difficult for them. Washington the 2nd team into a Conference Semi Final and we shall see if San Jose can be the 3rd later.
No comments:
Post a Comment