Stepan Wins Game 7 in Overtime For Rangers

The New York Rangers celebrate the game winning goal by center Derek Stepan in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in New York. (Photo: Kathy Willens, AP)

The NY Rangers have once again stunned not only a playoff opponent, but the Hockey World as well, as they climb out of a 3-1 series deficit to win a Game 7. This time the opponent was the Washington Capitals, who had built a 3-1 series lead by winning Game 1 on a fluke last second goal by Joel Ward and two one goal games at the Verizon Center in DC. But that was where it ended for the Caps, as the Broadway Blueshirts took the next three games to take the series.

The scoring opened in the first period, as Alex Ovechkin, who had guaranteed a victory in Game 7, who took a beautiful pass from Marcus Johansson that just got past Dan Girardi, and rifled it past Lundqvist.

The Rangers had a golden opportunity when Derek Stepan poked the puck ahead to Rick Nash while shorthanded, and the Monster Nash streaked in on the Caps net. But a great save on the backhander by Holtby denied the Ranger power forward.

In the second period, the Rangers did tie the score, as J.T. Miller’s pass found Kevin Hayes alone to the side of Holtby and the former BC Eagle deposited it into the back of the net.

The score stayed that way through the rest of the second and the entire third period, but there were some great scoring chances, but bot net minders were fabulous! Both Holtby and Henrik stood their ground and made some awesome plays to keep the game deadlocked at 1-1.

The game went into OT, and the Caps did put enormous pressure on the Rangers, but the defense and Henrik kept the puck out of the net. Then the Rangers had a faceoff off an icing deep in Washington territory. Derek Stepan won the faceoff, and brought the puck back to Keith Yandle, who then passed to Dan Girardi. Girardi then took a blast from the point that Holtby saved, but the rebound came out to Steps, who waited and then snapped the wrister past the fallen Caps goalie for the game and series winning goal.

Steps not only won the faceoff, but got himself in a position to score the game winner. What a set of plays by the youngster from Hastings, Minnesota.

The Rangers will now meet the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals that will start on Saturday May 16^th, at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop will be at 1:00PM EST on NBC.

Scoring:

WSH: Alex Ovechkin (5) Assisted by Marcus Johansson & Nicklas Backstrom

NYR: Kevin Hayes (2) PPG Assisted by J.T. Miller & Ryan McDonagh

OT

NYR: Derek Stepan (3) Assisted by Dan Girardi & Keith Yandle

Team Stats                              WSH                             NYR

Shots on Goal                         36                                  39

Power Play                              0 for 3                           1 for 4

Hits                                         26                                  32

Face Off Wins                        47                                  32

Giveaways                              9                                    12

Takeaways                             1                                    9

Blocked Shots                         21                                  19

Goalie Stats:

Braden Holtby: 37 Saves on 39 Shots for a SV% of .949

Henrik Lundqvist: 35 Saves on 36 Shots for a SV% of .972

3 Stars of the Game:

3^rd Star: Braden Holtby: 37 Saves on 39 Shots for a SV% of .949

2^nd Star: Henrik Lundqvist: 35 Saves on 36 Shots for a SV% of .972

1^st Star: Derek Stepan; 1 Goal (Game and Series winner in OT)

Broadway Bits:

In his last six Game 7’s, Henrik Lundqvist has a 0.81 GAA and a SV% of .973

In his last ten elimination games, Henrik is 10-0, with a GAA of 0.96 and a SV% of .968

Dan Boyle was clobbered by a hit from Brooks Orpick, who once again delivered a hit to an opponent’s head. Boyle went down, got up and fell back to the ice. He skated off under his own power and went to the locker room with trainer Jim Ramsey.

The play should have been a penalty, as Orpick not only delivered a hit to Boyle’s head, but LEFT HIS FEET in doing so. There was no penalty called, but he should face a suspension for the start of the 2015-16 season.