ECQF Game 3: Rangers Down Capitals 4-3 To Get Back Into Series
After scoring just one goal in the first 2 games of the series, the Rangers got offense from some unlikely sources as they exploded for 4 goals against Braden Holtby and hung on for a 4-3 win.
It certainly didn’t come easy. Three different times the game was tied, as every time one team scored, the other would reply.
May 6, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) scores the game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Rangers won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Washington got on the board first, with Nicklas Backstrom deflecting John Carlson‘s point shot past Henrik Lundqvist. After review for a high stick, the goal stood and the Capitals led 1-0 before the 5 minute mark. Brian Boyle evened the score with the Rangers’ first goal since the first period of game 1 when he picked up a loose puck on the boards and danced around Mike Green and beat Holtby clean.
The Rangers got their first lead of the game early in the second, with Derick Brassard‘s quick wrist shot on the power play beating Holtby. Green evened the score late in the period to send the teams to the dressing rooms with just 20 minutes left and nothing solved with the game tied at 2.
The Rangers drew first blood in the third with Brassard behind the net finding Arron Asham in the slot and he made no mistake to give the Rangers their second lead of the game. They could not hang on to the lead once again as Jay Beagle brought Washington even again after he tipped home Jack Hillen‘s shot off an offensive zone faceoff to tie the score once again. Finally, Derek Stepan knifed in through the slot an tipped a past by Rick Nash pass past Holtby. The Rangers would not relinquish this lead, and the 4-3 win puts them back into the series, now down 2-1 as opposed to being in a 3-0 hole.
SENSHOT’S 3 STARS
1. Derick Brassard
2. Brian Boyle