Caps Steal Game 1 with Ward Goal in Final Seconds

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals was a tooth and nail battle that went down to the final seconds of regulation. The game was headed into OT, but then disaster struck the Rangers.

Dan Boyle was playing the puck to the left of Henrik Lundqvist’s net when he was hit from behind by Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom’s elbow made contact with Boyle’s head and Boyle was slammed into the boards. The two refs Kelly Sutherland and Chris Rooney failed to blow their whistle for any of those infractions. Instead, Alex Ovechkin gained control of the puck and fed it out to Joel Ward, who was able to shoot the puck between Lundqvist’s legs to win it for the Caps, 2-1.

The goal was scored with 1.3 seconds left in regulation.

Sorry fellow Ranger fans, but if Henrik Lundqvist wants to be the King, and wants to be considered one of the top five goalies in the world and wants to lead the Rangers to a Stanley Cup, he HAS TO MAKE THAT SAVE AT THAT MOMENT!!!!!

It was not like he was surprised by Ward, he saw that he had the puck. Did Henrik try to use his glove, or try to block his 5-hole with his goalie stick? No, he did neither and the puck went right between his legs and into the net. Now, the Rangers are squarely behind the eight ball and MUST win on Saturday afternoon at the Garden, or the series will be over.

The Broadway Blueshirts played 82 games and won 53 of them and gathered 113 points to gain home ice advantage throughout the playoffs only to lose it because of a non-call and a non- save by Henrik? God I hope not!!

The first goal by the Caps was a blast from Ovechkin who used Dan Boyle as a screen that went in and out so fast you could not follow the puck. Again it was a blast, but it was to the short side and Henrik did not raise up. Maybe if he tried, the puck would have hit his shoulder. Who knows, it might have even not gone in. But no matter, he did not and the puck scored and the Caps had a 1-0 lead. And they kept that lead into the 3^rd period.

They kept that lead until Kevin Hayes let go with a low shot that deflected off of the leg of Jesper Fast and by Holtby to tie the game at 1-1. The crowd and the Rangers were headed towards overtime, that is until the refs swallowed their whistles and Lundqvist let Ward score on him from in close.

Scoring:

WSH: Alex Ovechkin (3) PPG Assisted by John Carlson & Braden Holtby

NYR: Jesper Fast (1) Assisted by Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin

WSH: Joel Ward (2) Assisted by Alex Ovechkin & Nicklas Backstrom

Team Stats                              WSH                             NYR

Shots on Goal                         29                                  32

Power Play                             1 for 2                           0 for 2

Hits                                         32                                  34

Giveaways                              13                                  20

Takeaways                             3                                    7

Face Off Wins                        27                                  34

Blocked Shots                         19                                  15

Goalie Stats:

Braden Holtby: 31 Saves on 32 Shots for a SV% of .969

Henrik Lundqvist: 27 Saves on 29 Shots for a SV% of .931

3 Stars of the Game:

3^rd Star: Henrik Lundqvist: 27 Saves on 29 Shots for a SV% of .931

2^nd Star: Alex Ovechkin: 1 Goal and 1 Assist

1^st Star: Braden Holtby: 31 Saves on 32 Shots for a SV% of 9.69

Broadway Bits:

In five of six playoff games this season, the Rangers have allowed two goals or less. In fact, the Blueshirts lead the playoffs in goals against (1.67)

All six Ranger playoff games this season have been decided by one goal

16 different Rangers have registered at least one point and eight different Rangers have scored at least one goal

The Blueshirts had 34 hits in the game. 13 different players had at least one hit and 10 had at least two

Jesper Fast scored his first NHL Playoff goal, had one block and posted a plus one rating in 14:49 of ice time

Kevin Hayes recorded his first NHL assist and posted a plus one rating in 14:52 of ice time

Carl Hagelin had an assist, three hits, one takeaway and posted a plus one in 16:05 of ice time

Kevin Klein returned to the lineup and led all skaters with six hits and three shots on goal in 18:47 of ice time

James Sheppard had two hits and a block in 11:02 of ice time

Game 2 will be on Saturday May 2^nd on NBC at 12:30

Hockey House at MSG will be open from 9:00AM until 3:00PM on Saturday

Tune into In the Crease, my Internet Radio Show on Friday May 1^st from 7:00PM until 8:00PM where I will have a recap of Game 1 and a preview of Game 2.