May 4, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) is beaten by Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green (not pictured) for the game winning goal in overtime in game two of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Braden Holtby ended up getting the shutout, making 24 saves to record the win, but it was Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist who was far busier in terms of quality and quantity of shots.  Lundqvist was stellar making 38 stops, many of them on second or third chances.

The Rangers had their best chance to break the scoreless draw with just under 4 minutes remaining in the game when Rick Nash broke in from his own blue line, powered past Martin Erat and beat Holtby, but couldn’t beat the iron. The Rangers were denied what looked like should have been a power play for delay of game via the “automatic” puck over the glass with 46 seconds left.  The penalty was not called on the play much to the chagrin of John Tortorella and the Rangers.

Ironically enough, each team would be assessed a penalty for the exact same thing in overtime. Washington was the first team to go a man down, with Steven Oleksy committing the infraction.  The Caps killed the penalty off successfully without allowing a shot to get through on Holtby.

Then, just over 7 minutes into the period, Ryan McDonagh was sent off for the same infraction, and the Rangers could not kill it off.  On their third shot of the power play, Mike Green wired a slap shot from the point that went off the post and in, and just like that Washington had a 2-0 series lead.

SENSHOT’S 3 STARS

1. Henrik Lundqvist

2. Braden Holtby

3. Mike Green

Game 3 goes Monday at 7:30 pm from Madison Square Garden.

Mar 23, 2013; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Lars Eller (81) before the game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

For most of the pundits outside of Montreal, the hit was widely regarded as a solid hockey hit with incidental contact with the head, resulting in a bad injury after Eller’s face hit the ice.

You can read my initial thoughts on the hit, which have been echoed by many influential hockey journalists.

If yes, no suspension. If no, he’ll be suspended. Your guess as good as mine. I’m leaning toward former but couldn’t rule out latter.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 3, 2013

Former referee Kerry Fraser deemed the hit to be a “clean hit with a bad result” on TSN.

Meanwhile,the Ottawa Sun seems proud of their cover on Friday’s paper, which many people, including myself, think of as very classless.

Whatever the result of the hearing, it will be a very interesting game tonight and emotions will be high in the building.

I will be travelling to Montreal to sit in studio as a guest on the pregame and postgame shows on montrealhockeytalk.com.  As passionate as the guys are about the Canadiens, I expect this to be a big topic of conversation and debate in the pregame show (starts at 6:00 at the link above).