Henrik Lundqvist is greeted by Kevin Klein and Tanner Glass following the Rangers 3-2 win in Game 2 over the Caps evening the second round series.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

The playoffs keep you on the edge of your seat. Sometimes, they make you very nervous. If your team wins, only then can you breathe a sigh of relief. Let’s just say the Rangers gave every fan anxiety in the final minute but ultimately hung on to beat the Caps 3-2 in Game 2 at MSG evening the second round series.

It wasn’t pretty but didn’t have to be. All that matters is they bounced back from the bitter disappointment of Game 1 to send the series back to Washington tied at a game apiece. Facing their first adversity of the playoffs, the Rangers came out more determined. They were ready at the drop of the puck with Chris Kreider burying home a Jesper Fast rebound past Braden Holtby just 38 seconds in to give them an early 1-0 lead. Derek Stepan set up Fast in front forcing Holtby into a difficult save with the rebound caroming right to Kreider who deposited it for his second goal of the postseason.

That it was Fast who was in on the tone setting goal was a credit to Rangers coach Alain Vigneault. Prior to the game, there were no lineup changes as reported by the media. However, that didn’t stop him from flipping Fast with J.T. Miller, who moved down to the third line and responded well. Fast was terrific all day assisting on Kreider’s goal while being a monster on the forecheck along with strong penalty killing on the lone Caps power play early in the third with them trailing by one.

That wasn’t the only adjustment Vigneault made. He also changed his second and third defense pairs moving Kevin Klein back up with Marc Staal while shifting Dan Boyle back with Keith Yandle. Klein and Staal were solid. Especially Staal who had a clean takeout on a charging Alex Ovechkin during the second which drew roars from the crowd. Boyle and Yandle were a bit more of an adventure.

In a game they needed, the Blueshirts played with more urgency. Following up Kreider’s tally with superb puck possession and better chances against Holtby. They took the body and went hard to the net while firing 15 shots in a busy first period, taking the action to the Caps. Washington hardly had any time to make plays. Aside from scoring, Kreider was assertive delivering a thunderous hit on Ovechkin against the glass. It was one of his best games. If not for some big stops from Holtby, he could’ve had a hat trick.

The Rangers’ aggression resulted in consistent forecheck pressure and forced the Caps into penalties. The power play was more simple with players making one or two passes and then firing. Vigneault altered the look moving Martin St. Louis back on the right point with Boyle. Yandle and Ryan McDonagh ran the second unit.

Ironically, it was Boyle who got a nice reward on the second power play. Following ferocious pressure, the Caps attempted clear rolled to the line giving Boyle enough time to skate and recover the puck. With Rick Nash screening Holtby in front, Boyle threw a seeing eye shot that snuck past the Washington goalie for a 2-0 lead with 4:20 left in the first.

Leading by two, the Rangers pressed for more. If not for Holtby, it could’ve been a blowout. A foolish Tom Wilson charge on a double hit with Brooks Orpik on McDonagh handed them a third power play with under two minutes left. Despite some looks, they were unable to take advantage.

All Hail The King: Henrik Lundqvist makes a diving save to rob Alex Ovechkin in the first period.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

After being outshot 15-4, the Caps made a strong push in the second. Harder on the puck and able to sustain consistent pressure, they began generating chances. Finally able to test Henrik Lundqvist, they turned the tables. Even though the Rangers continued to attack, the Caps had the better opportunities. Lundqvist made an acrobatic save on a tricky shot to prevent a goal. He also denied Ovechkin and robbed Evgeny Kuznetsov with a great stack job to keep them off the board.

Eventually, Kuznetsov got one to cut the deficit to 2-1 with 6:01 left in the second. It was a total breakdown by Yandle and Boyle. Following a offensive draw that Miller won, Yandle got caught allowing the speedy Jason Chimera to come the other way on a counter. He was able to get off a tough low shot that Lundqvist couldn’t control allowing Kuznetsov to just beat Boyle to the loose puck for his fourth of the postseason.

Back in it, the Caps got life. They searched for the equalizer and almost had it a couple of times but Lundqvist made some big stops. The Rangers had some chances with a flying Kreider getting two mini-breaks but just missing his patented backhand deke. On the first one, Stepan made a great head man pass off the boards sending him in but Holtby was able to get his pad on it. The second, he didn’t have enough real estate.

The third was intense. The Rangers were a bit tentative early allowing the Caps to have possession. A Brassard interference minor in the offensive zone handed Washington their only power play. It was dangerous. After he had one shot blocked, Ovechkin got to the rebound and fired wide. Eventually, it was killed off with some good work done by Nash.

At the conclusion, Nash found St. Louis open at the Caps blueline. With Brassard out of the box and open calling for the puck, St. Louis’ pass took a favorable hop off a Caps stick right to Brassard who was finally able to beat Holtby through the wickets. That made it 3-1 with 13:53 left in regulation. Brassard’s reaction was priceless. He had a couple of other chances to beat Holtby on point blank rebounds but wasn’t able to. So, he was pumped. With NBC’s Pierre McGuire talking to him, he nodded.

But it wouldn’t be that easy for the Rangers to draw even. An absolutely amazing individual effort from Ovechkin resulted in the top Cap scoring a highlight reel goal that cut it to 3-2 with 9:31 remaining. Following an Orpik outlet for Joel Ward, Ovechkin took a Ward feed in the neutral zone and flew by McDonagh and Dan Girardi and in one motion fired a laser far side past Lundqvist. What made it even more stunning was his momentum carried him to the ice after the goal was scored. Unbelievable.

It’s the best I’ve ever seen Ovechkin play. He has really bought in under Washington coach Barry Trotz. In Game 1, he barked at young Russian Kuznetsov to get to the bench and not overstay his shift. If Ovechkin is going to play like this, it’s gonna be that much harder for the Rangers to win this series. The defense hasn’t been good enough. There were still too many turnovers and clear cases of forwards forgetting to take the man.

Clearly, the defense needs to tighten up. There are still instances where the Caps are getting too much room. They’re also having problems clearing the puck. The final minute and a half reminded me of 2009 against the same team. It was scary. The Caps set up Ovechkin twice but both his one-timers missed. John Carlson also missed wide.

The Rangers really did hang on. They got a bit lucky. At least they did what they had to do to square the series. Now comes the next challenge. Get the next one on Monday. That might mean a vintage Lundqvist performance. He hasn’t delivered one yet. He’s been good but can be better with the rebound control. He made 30 saves. Holtby had 32.

Chris Kreider is pumped after scoring 38 seconds into Game 2.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Alex Ovechkin, WSH (highlight reel goal-4th of postseason, 4 SOG, countless others that missed, 9 hits in 22 shifts-19:49)

2nd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (30 saves incl. 11/12 in 3rd)

1st Star-Chris Kreider, NYR (2nd of postseason, 3 SOG in 7 attempts, 4 hits in 28 shifts-18:27)

Notes: Shots in the third were 12-8 Caps. For the game, it was 35-32 Rangers. After leading 15-4 following the first, they were outshot 28-20. … Rangers out-attempted the Caps 63-60. … With the game-winner, Brassard scored his team-leading fourth. Since 2013, he has 12 goals and 17 assists totaling 29 points in the postseason which leads all Blueshirts. … St. Louis is without a goal in his last eight postseason games. His last one came on 6/11/14 vs the Kings in Game 4. … Game 3 is Monday at Verizon Center with a start time of 7:30 PM. … Ryan Bourque was recalled from Hartford.

Key Statistics

Power Play WSH 0-1 NYR 1-4

Hits WSH 38 (Ovechkin 9) NYR 30 (Klein, Kreider 4)

Blocked Shots WSH 15 (Orpik 4) NYR 12 (Girardi 5)

Faceoffs WSH 31 (Laich 5-and-1) NYR 27 (Brassard 8-and-5)

Giveaways WSH 12 (Ward 3) NYR 13 (Brassard, Staal 3)