Cheap Goal Sinks Blueshirts 1-0 in Washington

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The Washington Capitals are a very good team. But this Game 3 came down to a goal scored off of the skate of Keith Yandle and then that of Henrik Lundqvist. That is all that stood between a 0-0 tie that would have gone to OT. In the second period, Jay Beagle came out from behind the Ranger’s net and either tried to pass the puck or shot the puck, but it went off of the skate of Keith Yandle and then off of the skate of Henrik Lundqvist and somehow into the Ranger net.

Was it a fluke goal? Absolutely. Was it “puck luck” for the Caps? Absolutely. But hey, that was the only goal scored.

The Rangers played very well, but could not solve Braden Holtby, as he stopped all 30 shots that the Blueshirts took. They also killed off two Washington Power Plays, but could not score on two Power Plays of their own. They held the Caps to only 22 shots, but one squeaky, dirty, slippery shot clanged off to skates and somehow landed in the net.

That my friends is “puck luck” and how hockey treats its fans.

So far all three of these games have been decided by a single goal, with the Rangers on the short side, down 2-1.

The Caps have scored five goals in three games and the Rangers four. So even there it is a one goal difference.

Is the series over? No way. Are the Caps dominating? Again, no way. This series is as close as close can be. Game 4 will be the difference maker, as the Rangers try to even the series at 2 apiece.

I usually check Twitter during the games and I laugh out loud at what people tweet. Some of them think that it is so easy to just shoot the puck, or crash the net, or score on the Power Play, or put the right guys on the ice at the right time. Hockey is such a difficult game to play and when your opponent is very good, it is extremely difficult to impose your will on them.

I just wonder if any of these tweeters actually ever skated, played hockey or know the ins and outs of the game? They do make me laugh however.

Scoring:

WSH: Jay Beagle (1) Assisted by Andre Burakovsky & Troy Brouwer

Team Stats                              NYR                              WSH

Shots on Goal                         30                                  22

Power Play                              0 for 2                           0 for 2

Hits                                         31                                  39

Face Off Wins                        18                                  40

Giveaways                              15                                  15

Takeaways                             7                                    9

Blocked Shots                         12                                  27

Goalie Stats:

Braden Holtby: 30 Saves on 30 Shots for a SV% of 1.000

Henrik Lundqvist: 21 Saves on 22 Shots for a SV% of .955

3 Stars of the Game:

3^rd Star: Henrik Lundqvist: 21 Saves on 22 Shots for a SV% of .955

2^nd Star: Jay Beagle: 1 Goal

1^st Star: Braden Holtby: 30 Saves on 30 Shots for a SV% of 1.000