Capitals Advance to the Second Round of the Playoffs

For the second time in three seasons, the Washington Capitals eliminated the New York Rangers from the Stanley Cup playoffs. Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin scored as the Capitals defeated the Rangers by a score of 3-1.

"That was a really tough series," said Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau after the game. "It was done in five but, I mean I think John [Rangers Head Coach John Tortorella] would say the same thing…either team could’ve won all five games."

This is the first time the Capitals have won a series in under five games with Boudreau behind the bench. The last time they won a five-game series was in 1998 en route to the franchise's only appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Green was the story of the first period, scoring his first goal of the playoffs and the first goal in any first period of the series. Marcus Johansson drew a tripping call on Bryan McCabe to give the Caps the first power play of the game. Mike Green picked up a rebound at the side of the net and banked it in under Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi. Ovechkin and Brooks Laich picked up the assists on the goal.

Later in the period, Green was the focus of another big play when he went down to block a shot from Matt Gilroy. The shot hit his helmet and the replay showed pieces of his helmet flying off. He wasn't bleeding and skated off the ice under his own power. Green was playing in just his fifth game since missing 27 of the final 28 games of the regular season with what was believed to be a concussion.

He returned to the bench in the second period, but never took a shift. Boudreau said Green could have played if needed, but he was held out to prevent further injury.

Ovechkin scored one of his signature goals in the second period to double the lead. Scott Hannan found him streaking up the right wing boards. He then used his speed to get around defenseman Marc Staal and hold off his attempts to poke the puck away. Ovechkin backhanded the puck high past Henrik Lundqvist's blocker for his sixth point of the playoffs.

"I think I have pretty good speed down there. Hanner [Scott Hannan] gave me a pretty good pass and I just do what I have to do to score goals. It’s my job," said Ovechkin after the game.

Ovechkin played the majority of the game on the right side despite being a left wing by trade. He saw some time at the right side earlier in the season and could see more time there in the playoffs if it continues to be successful.

The Rangers picked up their play following Ovechkin's goal, but failed to convert on two power play opportunities.

In the third period, the Capitals waited for the Rangers defensemen to pinch, allowing opportunites for odd man breaks. Semin capitalized on one of those breaks with about four minutes left in the game. Johansson set up the goal with a perfect pass around the lone New York defenseman.

The Rangers pulled Lundqvist with about three minutes left and were able to score late in the game to spoil Michal Neuvirth's shutout bid. Wojtek Wolski scored the goal, but that would be all New York could muster. They finished the series with just eight goals.

Caps fans were looking at a chance to get back at New York's fans after Washington's thrilling three-goal double-overtime comeback at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. Boudreau had made some comments prior to the game about Verizon Center being louder which led the New York faithful to start a very loud "Can you hear us?" chant.

The Capitals fans were happy to respond, chanting "We are louder!" throughout the game.

Ovechkin was happy to hear the fans and end the series, but he wasn't ready to relax.

"It's not over yet, it's just one step," he said after game. "Tomorrow's gonna be a new day, it's gonna be a new series."

Additional Notes

-The Capitals didn't have to look far to see what could happen if they lost game five at home with a 3-1 series lead. Last season they held a 3-1 series lead over the Montreal Canadiens, but lost the final three games of the series. Vancouver and Pittsburgh both lost at home in the fifth games of their respective series with 3-1 leads this weekend.

- Noted New York pest Sean Avery got into a scrum with Brooks Laich during the game. He claimed Laich bit him. Laich explained that while Avery was trying to shove Laich, his fingers got jammed into Brooks' mouth.

- The Capitals never allowed a goal in the first period throughout the entire series. The last team to go five straight games without allowing a first period goal in the postseason was the 2007 Anaheim Ducks. They won the Stanley Cup that year.

- Michal Neuvirth finished the series with a 1.38 goals-against average  and a .946 save percentage. He currently leads the league in both categories.

- Another reason for the Capitals' success: they finished the series with a 95% penalty kill success rate.

- This was only the second time in the series in which the Capitals led in regulation, the first beind the 2-0 win in game two. Their other wins game in overtime.