Carl Hagelin celebrates his goal with Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan Getty Images/Kathy Willens

They did it again. For a second consecutive game, the Rangers made MSG rock. How I wish I was there. At least Dad, Justin and Mike are leaving the building in great spirits with the rest of our True Believers. Facing another must win, they got the job done by going toe to toe with the Capitals for a second straight game. In each victory, your Broadway Blueshirts scored over three to prevail. The polar opposite of the regular season. They just figured they’d save the best for last.

What a time for it to happen. The Rangers did it by sticking together. They showed tremendous character in taking Game Four 4-3. The first round series is now a best-of-three with Game Five back in Washington. Our team won by out-scoring the Caps 2-1 in the third. That followed a disastrous ending to the second period. The Rangers blew a 2-0 lead. In fact, the Caps had all the momentum following Troy Brouwer’s wicked backhand that tied it with 18 seconds left. They even made Henrik Lundqvist make one more save before the buzzer. However, Jason Chimera pushed Anton Stralman into Lundqvist to give them a power play to start the third.

Previously, they blew a 5-on-3 leading by one. All the power play failures have become comical at this point. Our fans never expect anything. The Caps got better shorthanded chances. Perhaps the intermission gave John Tortorella and top assistant Mike Sullivan a chance to rethink strategy. That’s the only explanation. With the game tied, they sent out the unlikeliest five-man unit and it worked. Derick Brassard, Brian Boyle and Mats Zuccarello were up front while much maligned Mike Del Zotto teamed with Dan Girardi on the points. Amazingly, they scored 59 seconds into the third. A strong play along the board by Zuccarello allowed Brassard to set up a Girardi one-time blast that beat Braden Holtby. It was Girardi’s first of the series.

Back ahead, the Rangers restored a two-goal margin thanks to some good aggressive play from the reformed top unit of Ryan Callahan, Carl Hagelin and Derek Stepan. Callahan finished a check behind the net, freeing the puck to Hagelin. Hagelin walked out and centered for a wide open Stepan, who buried his second in two games. It’s that trio who’s gone above and beyond all year. Fitting that they delivered such a big goal. As it turned out, Stepan’s marker proved to be the game decider a second game in a row. He deserved it.

Before they could get too comfortable, the resilient Caps struck back 1:29 later to slice the deficit to 4-3. A great shift from Mathieu Perreault and Joel Ward allowed defenseman Karl Alzner to step into a shot which changed direction past a surprised Lundqvist. It was credited to Perreault. Oddly enough, the forechecking of Perreault, Ward and Eric Fehr caused fits. They were their best line, dangerous every shift. In particular, Ward came oh so close to tying it on two difference occasions including one that a sprawling Lundqvist just got a piece of to keep it out.

There were plenty of frantic moments where they were on the verge of coming back from two goals down twice. Thankfully, it never came. The defense on Alex Ovechkin was stellar. Both Girardi and Ryan McDonagh stifled the Great 8 for a second straight game. Of his five attempts, only one got through with another three missing completely. Prior to Game Four, he said he liked facing McDonagh and Girardi because ‘they don’t hit much.‘ There was one long shift where the Caps pressed for the equalizer. Ovechkin was out with Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green. Backstrom and Green had better looks while McDonagh stuck to Ovi like glue. Maybe he should rethink his statement.

The Rangers didn’t sit back either. Even though the more talented Caps attacked at every opportunity, our team went for it when the opportunities presented itself. A key defensive play from Rick Nash and a critical face-off win from goalscorer Brad Richards helped them escape trouble. Neither has been particularly impressive but those kind of hustle plays is why the series is tied. A strong shift from Boyle, Zuccarello and Brassard resulted in a quality chance. Zuccarello fed Boyle, who forced Holtby to make a tough save with under two minutes left. The trio received an ovation.

In another Groundhog Day moment from Game Three this year and in 2011 against this damn team, the final minute was insane. The Caps pulled Holtby for an extra attacker and Ward nearly forced overtime. Fortunately, Lundqvist got enough of the puck to force it wide. An Ovechkin rocket wide and missed pass to the blueline killed valuable seconds. Backstrom got a final shot from inside the blueline that Hank stopped and sticked away into the corner as time expired.

Richards and Hagelin got the first two goals of the game. Richards cashed in a Holtby miscue rebounding home a Hagelin shot into a vacated net. Taylor Pyatt picked up an assist, getting it started by stealing the puck from Holtby. The Rangers had their best period of the series in the first, out-shooting Washington 13-6 and out-chancing them. They easily could’ve been up more if the two-man advantage came through. Hagelin got his second when he finished off a nice passing play from Ryane Clowe and Brassard. Clowe’s first playoff point as a Blueshirt. The Caps stormed back late stunning everyone. Brouwer’s tying goal came due to a bad line change. Green made a great keep and Brouwer blew a backhand past Lundqvist.

The third demonstrated how much character this team has. They played for one another and got the all important ‘W.’ Now, it’s up for grabs.

NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Ryan Callahan, NYR (assist, 6 SOG, 7 blocks, 5 hits, +1 in 27 shifts-23:31-Captain Cally is fearless. He led. Plain and simple.)
2nd Star-Carl Hagelin, NYR (2nd of series, 2 assists, 4 SOG, +3 in 22 shifts-16:16-Hags imprints were all over this game.)
1st Star-Dan Girardi, NYR (PPG-1st of series, 5 blocks, 3 hits, +1 in 29:35-without him and McDonagh, they don’t win)


Notes: With two assists, Brassard followed up a three-point Game Three with another great effort. That’s five points in two games (1-4-5). Both wins. He’s been tremendous. … Final shots were Rangers 34, Caps 30. Perreault, Ward and Green combined for 14 for Washington while Stepan, Callahan and Hagelin totaled 16 with Richards adding four. … Hagelin had a career playoff high three points (1-2-3) and went plus-three. … With a helper, Zuccarello has three assists over the last two. … Following the Caps’ second goal, Steve Eminger didn’t take another shift. Partner Del Zotto also got victimized going down to take himself out of the play on Perreault’s goal. Perreault was credited with the Caps third with the puck going off the back of his helmet. … Ward added two assists. … 

The Rangers took only two penalties while the Caps took four. The power play went 1-for-4 while a strong penalty kill blanked Washington in two chances. … Rangers out-hit Caps 38-20 led by Callahan (5). They blocked 33 shots including a ridiculous seven from Captain Cally. Girardi and McDonagh each had five and Del Zotto repelled four. The Caps rejected 20 paced by John Carlson (5) and Jack Hillen had 3. … Lundqvist finished with 27 saves while Holtby stopped 30 of 34. … A key aspect of the win was face-offs. The Rangers dominated in the circle winning 34-of-53 (64 percent). Brassard went 8-for-9 and Boyle was 11-for-16. Stepan went 10-for-18. Backstrom was the Caps’ best going 9-for-16. Teammate Mike Ribeiro lost 9-of-11. … Game Five is Friday at Verizon Center.