Puck 'N Hockey

In the span of seven seconds in the second period, the New York Rangers beat Washington Capitals’ goaltender Michal Neuvirth for a pair of goals to go up 3-0, and appeared to be on the verge of leveling their Stanley Cup playoff series with the Capitals at 2-2.

New York was out-hitting, out-hustling, and doing a better job at creating quality scoring chances. And to make matters even worse, the fans at Madison Square Garden began taunting Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau by chanting “Can you hear us??!”

Chimera scoring the game winner in the second OT. (via Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)

The Capitals responded in the third period with a goal by Alex Semin and two goals by rookie Marcus Johansson to tie the game at 3-3. Late into the second overtime, Capitals’ winger Jason Chimera tapped in a rebound that Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist was unable to control to lift Washington to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the New York Rangers and a 3-1 series lead.

The Capitals can close out the series Saturday afternoon at Verizon Center in front of 18,000+ fans who will be Rocking The Red. This is the kind of game that Washington would’ve probably lost a year ago, but this year–rather than get down on themselves when trailing in a game– the Capitals settle themselves down and relied on intestinal fortitude to carry them through times of adversity. The poise they played with allowed them to get back into the game and keep the Rangers from scoring again.

The Capitals were in a similar position in the playoffs last year against Montreal, up 3-1 and playing the potential clinching game at home. Washington will again get the best possible effort the Rangers can muster, and must match or perhaps surpass the level of intensity that New York will bring as it faces elimination.