The Rangers are one win away from reaching the second round. In stifling the Capitals to take Game 3 by a score of 3-1 at Capital One Arena, they silenced the crowd who rocked the red.

On Sunday night, they’ll go for a series sweep. With the Hurricanes also leading the Islanders three games to none, it could be crucial to eliminate the Caps as soon as possible. A short series would be ideal with a much tougher opponent on the horizon.

It wasn’t the most exciting game. However, the Rangers earned the victory due to special teams and the brilliance of Igor Shesterkin.

The biggest edge they had in the series has played out. They were plus-two on special teams on Friday night. That included a Barclay Goodrow shorthanded goal that held up as the game-winner in the first period. Vincent Trocheck added a power-play goal late in the second period for insurance.

Shesterkin was particularly strong in the third period when his team sat back. He stopped all 14 shots en route to 28 saves to earn the game’s first star. He wasn’t that busy early on. But the Caps made a good push halfway through the second. His best save came when he got over to rob Max Pacioretty of a sure goal.

With Washington applying heavy pressure, Pacioretty was all set up in front for what looked like a goal. Shesterkin made a sprawling pad save and kept the puck out. It was the biggest play of the game.

That key stop more than made up for an uncharacteristic bad goal he allowed to John Carlson. At the time, the Blueshirts were dominating play. Charlie Lindgren made some good saves to keep the game scoreless.

After a shift from the fourth line, the Caps caught the Rangers in a line change. Martin Fehervary moved the puck up for T.J. Oshie. He quickly gained the zone and dropped the puck for a long Carlson wrist shot that Shesterkin whiffed on at 5:34.

But with the Caps’ fans still celebrating the goal, the lead was short-lived. On the following shift, Jack Roslovic provided some good work on the forecheck. He passed the puck for a Mika Zibanejad shot that Chris Kreider tipped in past Lindgren to tie the game only 34 seconds later.

Most notably, the goal came at five-on-five. An area the Zibanejad line has struggled with. They were effective during the first two periods. Although they didn’t combine for many shots, the trio spent some time in the Caps’ zone. Roslovic had a good night due to his skating. He’s got a goal and an assist in the last two games.

Shortly after Kreider’s tying goal, Ryan Lindgren took the first of many bad penalties. He cross-checked Beck Malenstyn from behind. That gave the Caps a power play.

It actually worked in the Rangers’ favor. Jacob Trouba blocked an Alexander Ovechkin shot. That set the wheels in motion for Trocheck and Goodrow to come on a two-on-one rush. With a delayed hooking call on Dylan Strome, Trocheck moved the puck across for Goodrow, who scored a shorthanded goal to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead with 11:52 left.

With the Caps still up a man, Tom Wilson just missed wide on a point blank chance. His one-timer didn’t connect. The Rangers dodged a bullet.

Back at even strength, the physicality picked up. Will Cuylle finished a check on Dylan McIlrath. Ovechkin got one in on K’Andre Miller. Then, Matt Rempe came in and nailed Trevor van Riemsdyk with a heavy hit that sent him flying to the ice. He was called for an interference minor penalty.

Van Riemsdyk had just reversed the puck when Rempe came in with his hit. It wasn’t interference. It could’ve been a different penalty. The question is, did he board or elbow him. He’s a bigger man. That makes it tough for refs to officiate. Van Riemsdyk never saw him coming. He’d exit the game with an upper-body injury.

The Rangers easily killed off the penalty. Truth be told, the Caps are too predictable on the man-advantage. Ovechkin is verh stationary, which makes him easier to defend. The only dangerous player is Wilson, who camps out in front.

Shesterkin made one good save on Strome and turned away a long Ovechkin shot. That was it. The Caps went 0 for 6 on the power play.

With under five minutes left, Wilson was sent off for a soft interference minor on Erik Gustafsson. Lindgren had a save on an Adam Fox try. Kreider missed on a redirection.

Late in the period, Alex Wennberg went off for hooking Pacioretty. Shesterkin stopped Ovechkin. The power play carried over. 

At the start of the second period, they successfully killed off the penalty. Oshie had a tip-in miss wide.

When play returned to full strength, Alexis Lafreniere created a couple of opportunities off hard work. He’s really brought it so far. Of the three on the big line, it’s been Lafreniere who’s been the most noticeable at five-on-five. That’s saying something when Panarin and Trocheck are your wingmen.

With it still a one-goal game, the hitting continued. Nobody passed up an opportunity to finish a check. Even Kaapo Kakko has been delivering hits in this series. Fox has also been more physically engaged. Miller paced the Rangers with six.

The Blueshirts sacrificed their bodies to get the win. They blocked 21 shots. Jacob Trouba led the way with seven. Goodrow added three. He was his feisty self. He’s played a superb series. Goodrow has a goal and two assists along with his usual gritty play at both even strength and on the penalty kill.

A Gustafsson slashing minor on Alexander Alexeyev forced them to kill off another penalty. Due to the diligent work, Shesterkin only had to come up with one big save stopping Connor McMichael.

On a good shift from Kakko, he was denied by a sliding Lindgren on a one-timer. He then drew a tripping minor on Alexeyev to put the Rangers on the power play.

They connected thanks to a smart play by Kreider. With Zibanejad and Trocheck working the left side with Fox, Kreider set a pick to create enough room for Zibanejad to pass in front for a Trocheck power-play goal with 4:38 remaining. He didn’t get an assist. But Kreider created the key insurance.

Miller got heated with Nic Dowd. After drawing the original call for roughing, he went back at Dowd when play halted. It was one of the most animated games Miller’s played. Dowd got the extra two.

The Rangers were unable to take advantage. Panarin couldn’t hit the net, missing twice. He finished the game without a shot in five attempts.

Lafreniere had the best chance on the second unit. But Lindgren stopped him. 

From that point on, it was the Shesterkin show. He made one save on Hendrix Lapierre in the final minute. He was just getting started.

In the third, the Rangers got themselves in trouble by taking bad penalties. First, Goodrow cross-checked Dowd. Shesterkin made a pair of saves to deny Wilson in front. 

The Caps continued to carry the play. Shesterkin then made two more stops on Strome with the sides back at full strength. With them in attack mode, Will Cuylle boarded Fehervary.

Like a broken record, the Blueshirts easily killed off the penalty. They limited the Caps to a single McMichael shot, which a locked in Shesterkin handled.

As the clock wound down, Shesterkin was busy stopping a flurry, including two Ovechkin shots. He also bailed out Wennberg after a giveaway by aggressively coming out to take away a Lapierre chance.

It wasn’t until there were less than five minutes left that the Rangers finally got their first shot of the period. That came from Lafreniere, who tested Lindgren. He then made a stop on Braden Schneider.

Miller drew a hold on Malenstyn, who showed his frustration going to the box. That allowed the Rangers to kill off two minutes – leaving the Caps with very little time to pull Lindgren. He finally went to the bench with 1:17 left.

The Caps hardly threatened. In fact, Shesterkin took a shot at the empty net with time running down. Ovechkin blocked the attempt.

That was it. The Rangers finished it off by killing the remaining seconds.