New York Rangers rally to edge Washington Capitals 3-2 in overtime -NHL Playoffs Update
The match stayed tight till the final minutes of regulation and heading into overtime, which was even more intense. Braden Holtby put up a good fight but an overtime entry goal by New York’s Marc Staal decided the match as Rangers edged Washington Capitals,
3-2, taking a one game lead in the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Playoff Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
Both teams were tied heading into Game 5 on Monday, May 7, 2012, at the sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York, but Rangers needed the win in all circumstances in order to stay alive till at the very least a Game 7 decider now.
Brad Richards has really stepped up for his team this series after staying a little on the down low. The heated forward now has 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in 12 games played up until now.
"We've been talking about it all year," New York Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist said. "Not only on the ice but off the ice, to have a guy like that -- he knows what it takes. You could tell when games are getting tighter, more important, he plays better. I think
he likes the intensity in games like that. It just shows what type of player he really is."
Anton Stralman kicked off the scoring with his third of the season followed by the equaliser from Brooks Laich in the second period.
John Carlson gave Washington something to work on when he scored the tie-breaking goal at 4:20 on the power play but it was Brad Richards who got the team back on track with his added man advantage goal with seven seconds remaining to go in the last period
of regulation.
Joel Ward’s double minor penalty at 19:38 of the third ultimately cost them the match as Marc Staal capitalised on the power play which carried over to overtime, making it two goals on the same Washington penalty.
"You can't say it was his fault," Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin said. "We all lost the game. We win as a group and lose as a group. … Unfortunately it was close, but not close enough. Tomorrow's going to be a new day and (the next game) is going to be a new game.
We've just got to play our game."
Game 6 kicks off on Wednesday, May 9, at the Verizon Center.
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