Ryan McDonagh (above) dives after a loose puck in front of Henrik Lundqvist. Brian Boyle celebrates his first period goal along with Mike Del Zotto. Getty Images/Kathy Willens

Sometimes, it’s as simple as will power. Will you go that extra mile? In Game Three, the Rangers did what it takes to get back in their first round series against the Capitals. They showed tremendous character pulling out a hard fought 4-3 win at a loud MSG Monday. Derek Stepan scored the game-winner with 6:25 left and they gave our fans a courageous penalty kill until the buzzer sounded with the Caps pulling Braden Holtby for a six-on-four.

It was reminiscent of Game Three two years ago on 4/17/11. That one also had a late hero with Brandon Dubinsky scoring with 1:39 left. The Caps mounted a furious charge to tie it but diving Rangers wouldn’t allow them. The dramatic ending last night was even more chaotic. Brad Richards took a slashing minor on Alex Ovechkin with 1:52 remaining. That gave a dangerous Caps plenty of chances to force overtime. Having already rallied from one-goal deficits twice, they passed the puck around like the Harlem Globetrotters. Mike Ribeiro, Mike Green and Ovechkin kept moving it looking for that perfect one-timer. It never came. The closest they got to tying it was a pass across to Troy Brouwer, who was stoned by Henrik Lundqvist. He made 28 saves. Many quality despite permitting three goals. None which he could be faulted on. Two were deflections and the other a Green bomb through traffic.

For the first time in the last three series between Washington and New York, someone scored more than three. That it was our team defined their resiliency. The passion they played with is why they prevailed. The Blueshirts got back to getting the uniform dirty. They were more physical, out-hitting the Caps 33-22 and out-blocking them 17-14. Another theme that continued was shots missing completely with each team missing 14. Unlike the first two games, this one had ups and downs. Momentum swings and most notably, OFFENSE. The seven goals they combined for were an oddity. We’re not used to it. But if the Rangers are going to comeback and win the series, they’ll need to keep scoring. They responded to Holtby’s comments by putting four past him on 30 shots.

The difference was our guys won battles and went to the net. Every goal came from in front off great plays. They got a total team effort. The supporting cast was instrumental. Brian Boyle had a big impact, scoring his first of the postseason while adding an assist. More than that, he competed every shift and went from a fringe player to one John Tortorella trusted. Boyle got nearly 21 minutes, moving up. With the Caps already leading 1-0 thanks to a Nicklas Backstrom redirection of a John Carlson shot, they had a chance to make it two when Ryan Callahan went to the box for a roughing retaliation. A strong penalty kill kept the deficit one. Boyle tied it with 7:10 left in the first. Taking a Derick Brassard feed, he drove hard to the net and beat Holtby. It came as Joel Ward’s high-sticking penalty expired. Boyle’s aggressiveness was a theme throughout.

When the action was five-on-five, Washington dominated. They spent long shifts fore-checking in the Ranger zone. Our D kept collapsing leaving the points vacated. The Caps are familiar with how to attack them. Their active defensemen are adept at keeping the puck in and getting shots through. It’s a good thing the Rangers earned six power plays. It was a rare instance where the man-advantage actually built momentum. Over a minute into the second, Holtby tripped Rick Nash handing them a fourth power play. Having essentially scored on Boyle’s tally, this time it was a power play goal. It took only eight seconds for Brassard to take a Mats Zuccarello feed and whistle one upstairs for his first career postseason goal. After having a quiet Game Two, he responded with a goal and two assists along with five hits. Brassard played his best game as a Blueshirt. Zuccarello also was strong setting up two goals.

The physical play continued. With the crowd finally able to chant “Holt-by, Holt-by, Holt-by,” the Caps continued to lose their discipline taking two more penalties. The six minors left Washington coach Adam Oates speechless. His team was clearly better at even strength. Even though the Rangers didn’t take advantage, it killed precious time and kept Ovechkin on the bench. He doesn’t kill penalties. Once the action returned to five-on-five, Washington resumed control. Following a penalty kill, Oveckin, Backstrom and Marcus Johansson had a strong shift. It looked like a power play. In particular, Ribeiro’s line with Brouwer and Martin Erat gave the Ranger D fits. Even with Marc Staal back, they had no answer for them. That trio has been the Caps’ most effective thus far.

Callahan took a second minor. Usually so disciplined, the Ranger captain didn’t have a good night. He still led them with six hits but didn’t do much offensively and was in the box twice. Having lost key penalty killer Darroll Powe in the first to injury, Tortorella gave Taylor Pyatt a PK shift. He delivered along with Boyle, Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin. Ryan McDonagh was strong defensively, limiting Ovechkin to two shots. He would later factor in offensively. Lundqvist made a pair of saves on Brouwer. Despite not capitalizing, the Caps continued to pressure and finally tied it late in the second. Off a strong cycle from Jason Chimera and Mathieu Perreault, Green fired home his second at 17:19.

An unlikely source put the Blueshirts back ahead. Arron Asham isn’t known for his scoring touch. However, he’s in his 7th straight postseason dating back to ’07 with the Islanders. He’s only missed the playoffs once over the last 12 seasons. Maybe there’s a method to his madness. Entering yesterday, he’d scored eight times in the previous 61. Asham had no trouble finishing off a brilliant Brassard dish in front giving the Rangers a 3-2 lead 2:53 into the third. He started it by winning a board battle to play the puck behind the net to Pyatt. Pyatt worked it deep to Brassard who found a driving Asham all alone. Asham went top shelf for his ninth career postseason goal.

Undeterred, Washington struck back again. Following a Ranger icing, Jay Beagle won a face-off to Lundqvist’s right and had a puck glance off him making it 3-3 with 12:41 left. Joel Ward pushed the puck back to Jack Hillen, whose shot dipped off Beagle changing direction. At that point, Sam Rosen pointed out the obvious. Someone had to score four to win. That never happened the past two series between the Caps and Rangers. Who was gonna be the hero? That’s when Stepan stepped up. With the help of Nash, he deflected home a great pass in front past Holtby for his first at 13:35. The play was made possible by a pinching McDonagh, who kept the puck in at the blueline. He navigated around Ovechkin and worked it to Zuccarello who dished behind the net across to Nash in the corner. Nash found Stepan, who beat Backstrom for the winner- leaving Nash and Stepan all smiles.

That left 6:25 to protect a 4-3 lead. The Caps had their chances. But diving Blueshirts sacrificed their bodies to get a much needed victory. Even if they made our fans sweat it out, the anxiety driven final 1:54 was exciting. It reminded of Rosen’s dramatic call of that Game Three win against the same team two years ago. Let’s hope they can repeat it tomorrow and square the series.

Notes: A key contributor was John Moore. Since being acquired with Brassard and Derek Dorsett at the deadline for Marian Gaborik, he’s elevated his play. Tortorella gave him the assignment of running the power play. He received 5:37 of his 15:50 (15 shifts) on it. Moore made a big play on Brassard’s PPG, keeping the play alive with a good pinch. He didn’t get an assist but made the goal possible. Moore was aggressive finishing with three shots. … Eight different Rangers registered a point including Mike Del Zotto (assist), who otherwise struggled in 17 shifts (17:02). Though he had four hits and two blocks, he also had two of the team’s 13 giveaways. Anton Stralman had three despite playing stronger. The Rangers were guilty of dangerous turnovers in the neutral zone. An area that must be corrected for Game Four.

… Dan Girardi paced all skaters with five blocks. Danny G’s work with McDonagh was vital. In 24 shifts (22:58), he had two shots, three hits, a takeaway and went plus-two. … Of Callahan’s six hits, his best came on John Erskine in the first, forcing the rugged Cap defenseman to go to the locker room before returning. Erskine’s been a thorn in the side. So. any shifts he misses are a plus. … Ovechkin had four shots miss the net and some blocked. He was minus-one in 22:07. … The Rangers had 11 takeaways to the Caps’ four. Washington won the face-off battle edging New York 30-27. Backstrom went 11-and-5 while Perreault was 8-and-2. Boyle was the Rangers’ best, finishing 14-and-7. Brad Richards was abysmal losing 11-of-15 while doing nothing offensively. At some point, he must contribute. … Nash’s assist was his first playoff point as a Ranger.

NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Ryan McDonagh, NYR (2 SOG, 2 blocks, takeaway, superb all around in 22 shifts-20:55)
2nd Star-Brian Boyle, NYR (1st of postseason, assist, 14-for-21 on draws, dominant in 29 shifts-20:42)
1st Star-Derick Brassard, NYR (PPG, 2 assists-3 points, clutch performance in 21 shifts-16:29)