Braden Holtby was the story in Game 3 making 30 saves to shutout the Rangers 1-0.
AP Photo by Alex Brandon/Getty Images

It isn’t going to be easy. If they didn’t know by now, the Rangers definitely are in a tough series with the Caps. Braden Holtby stopped all 30 shots to shutout the Rangers 1-0 in Game 3 allowing the Caps to take a 2-1 lead in the second round series.

The difference was a fluke goal coming from third line forward Jay Beagle, who beat Henrik Lundqvist on a backhand wraparound that deflected off Keith Yandle’s stick and in at 7:31 of the second period. That was how tightly played the game was. The teams combined for 52 shots. The Rangers out-attempted Washington 69-59. But it was the Caps defense blocking 27 shots which allowed Holtby to see most of the ones on goal.

It wasn’t that they played badly. The Rangers got off to a good start. Forechecking from the outset, they had the first five shots. However, they failed to take advantage. The early pressure wasn’t enough to get to Holtby, who outplayed Lundqvist for the second game in the series. Similar to Game 1, he made one less mistake. That was enough to put the Rangers down 2-1 facing a big Game 4 Wednesday. They don’t want to fall behind 3-1. Especially the way the Caps are playing.

For the second time, Washington was able to limit the Rangers’ speed. Even though they were outshot, they kept most of the opportunities to the outside and didn’t allow many second chances. Through three games, it’s the Caps’ defense core of Brooks Orpik, John Carlson, Matt Niskanen, Karl Alzner, Mike Green and Tim Gleason that’s outshined the Rangers’ blueline of Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Kevin Klein, Dan Boyle and Yandle.

The troubling aspect for the Blueshirts is how overmatched the third pair of Yandle and Boyle have looked. They have struggled in their end and been victimized by the opportunistic Caps. In Game 1, it was Nicklas Backstrom’s big hit on Boyle that helped Alex Ovechkin set up Joel Ward’s winner with 1.3 seconds left. On that play, McDonagh got beat too. In Game 2, Evgeny Kuznetsov took advantage of Yandle and Boyle to score while Ovechkin victimized McDonagh and Girardi. Monday night was no different with Yandle largely responsible for Beagle’s game-winner. He was out with Girardi when a Troy Brouwer dump turned into a circus.

To be blunt, Lundqvist misplayed it coming out way too far. After Andre Burakovsky recovered the loose puck behind the net for Beagle, Lundqvist never got back to his goalpost. That resulted in Beagle making a smart play just throwing the puck out and banking it in off Yandle and Lundqvist. It’s been that kind of scrappy play which has the Caps only two wins from the Conference Final. They’ve done the little things right.

When it’s played this closely, sometimes lucky bounces are what determine the outcome. However, the Caps have made the most out of those by being in the right place at the right time. They also have done a great job standing up at their blueline forcing the Rangers into mistakes. They haven’t shown enough willingness to adjust to Washington coach Barry Trotz’ strategy. Unless they make smart concise passes and chip pucks behind the Caps D using their speed to recover them, they could be in big trouble.

Another sore spot has been their discipline. Even though the Caps haven’t had many power plays, the Rangers have taken some bad penalties which killed momentum. In the first, Yandle got nabbed for tripping. Once they went to the man-advantage, the first period turned around. Even with Girardi cheating to Ovechkin’s side, he was still able to find room for a lethal one-timer that Lundqvist denied. He would later rob Ovechkin again following an ill timed Derick Brassard hold in the offensive zone. He got just enough of the glove on a tough wrist shot and then was able to stone Joel Ward.

Even though he only made 21 saves, Lundqvist came up with some dandies. The only fault you can find with him is that he’s yet to have that signature game. The Rangers probably need him to be perfect tomorrow and send the series back to MSG even. It’s hard to critique Henrik when he’s hardly getting any support. But he still must be better. If that means having to pitch a shutout, so be it.

When asked to assess his team’s offensive struggles, Lundqvist told MSG’s John Giannone: “We’re having trouble getting shots through,” while also noting that the Caps are doing a good job limiting second chances. Listening to him along with McDonagh and Rick Nash, who despite a team high seven shots was again held off the score sheet, they all emphasized needing to get inside more.

Following the loss, ESPN SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn summed up the frustration best.

The problem as I see it is they have failed to match the Caps’ lunch pail work ethic. The way they’re playing, it reminds me of a combo of the Bruins and Kings grinding down our D and making life difficult on our smallish forwards. Basically, Trotz has taken a page out of Darryl Sutter’s playbook cutting the rink down to size while slowing the tempo. The Rangers aren’t having much success with those long passes. The Caps are sitting back looking for mistakes so they can counter.

Oddly enough, Washington’s style reminds me of how former coach John Tortorella had our team playing in 2012. They are defending so well in front of Holtby that passes are getting broken up and rebounds are dying in front of diving Caps who are sacrificing their bodies. The Caps had 27 blocks to the Rangers’ 12. They also forced 15 giveaways while dominating on faceoffs 40-18. Washington won every key draw including a couple of big defensive ones in the final minute to protect the lead.

The Rangers’ failure to win offensive draws at the start of power plays is hurting them. While the man-advantage remains a nightmare with Boyle continuing to struggle keeping pucks in while Yandle is a one trick pony, by not winning those faceoffs it’s allowing the Caps free outs which takes away precious set up time. Given how long it takes them to get anything done, it makes their power play so easy to defend against.

Another area that needs fixing is the Rangers reluctance to shoot. They are over thinking. It almost looks like Holtby is in their heads. There are too many instances where our shooters have hesitated. By pausing, it allows Holtby more time to get set along with his defensemen. It needs to be more instinctive. Simplifying their strategy makes sense. If a shot’s available, take it. They should be driving the net more.

It’s not so much a question of Nash struggling. He had seven shots and was more aggressive throughout looking for his shot. His best opportunity came on a cycle where a backhand forced Holtby to kick out a low shot. Nash also was in front on a tough point shot that deflected off his skates into Holtby during a late push. He just needs to find a way to finish. Nash also played with an edge delivering a thunderous check on Orpik that could’ve been penalized. The hit was similar to Backstrom’s on Boyle.

Martin St. Louis had his best game of the postseason registering three shots including a breakaway which Holtby gloved. He wasn’t able to get the shot he wanted with a hustling Orpik getting good back pressure. St. Louis was more involved offensively but also was on for Beagle’s goal.

Chris Kreider was effective again registering five shots while being a physical force delivering six hits including a couple of heavy ones. He is going. The Rangers need to play more like him. Kreider is doing everything. He’s using his speed and size to create havoc. He’s also hustling back defensively.

If there is an issue, it might be time for Rangers coach Alain Vigneault to tweak his lines. He sticks to his guns. Late in the third, he mixed things up sending Kreider out for a shift with Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin. To his credit, the changes in Game 2 worked with Jesper Fast setting up Kreider’s goal 38 seconds in. Fast had another effective game on the second line. With offense at a premium, Vigneault might want to consider loading the deck. If that means reuniting Kreider with Nash and Derek Stepan, so be it.

When they play Game 4 at Verizon Center Thursday, the Blueshirts must come with their best effort. It can’t be in spurts. There must be more urgency shown. They’re experienced enough to fight back. We’ll see what they’re made of.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (21 saves)

2nd Star-Jay Beagle, WSH (game-winning goal-1st of playoffs, 10-and-2 on faceoffs, +1 in 12:59)

1st Star-Braden Holtby, WSH (30 saves for shutout)