SB Nation DC - 2012 NHL Playoffs, Capitals Vs. Rangers: Heartbreak, Again; Caps Fall, 2-1 In Game 7

2012 NHL Playoffs: Capitals/Rangers Game 7 Draws 1.68 Million Viewers

2012-05-15T15:38:17Z

Because we're nerds about this sort of thing, we can't help but do one last post about the TV ratings for the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Capitals and the New York Rangers.

The entire series drew large TV audiences, thanks to the presence of the New York market (as well as, of course, the various Capitals stars). So it was a little disappointing to see that the climactic Game 7 at Madison Square Garden drew only 1.68 million viewers, a tick below the 1.85 million that watched Game 3, which ended in a triple-overtime victory for New York.

The numbers can be explained. The game was played on Saturday night, when many people who might have watched the game at home instead went out to bars, which generally aren't counted in these things.

And even discounting that, NBCSN's numbers do compare favorably with the ratings at this time last year. Game 2 of the Bruins/Flyers series was the most-watched game of the first two rounds in 2011, drawing a smidgen under 1.7 million viewers.

All numbers via the indispensable Puck The Media.

Jay Beagle Suffered Broken Foot In Game 5 Against Rangers

2012-05-14T20:07:48Z

Jay Beagle had played in Washington's first 12 Stanley Cup playoff games, recording a goal and an assist, and generally excelling as a defensive forward.

So when the Capitals took the ice for warm-ups at Verizon Center prior to Game 6 against the New York Rangers Wednesday night, many observers were stunned to see Jeff Halpern, who had not dressed for the entire playoffs, in Beagle's place.

An injury to Beagle was immediately suspected, but no one outside the organization knew the full extent of it until Monday's breakdown day media availability.

Jay Beagle broke his foot on G5 PK when Stralman shot hit bone directly in left foot. Tried to play G6, had surgery next day
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 14, 2012

Dale Hunter, for what it's worth, told the media two hours before Game 6 that Beagle would play, a lie that's told by all hockey coaches at this time of year. But even allowing for the fact that skating puts less stress on a broken foot than walking, the fact that Beagle even attempted to play in Game 6 (George McPhee said that Beagle's foot was broken in a place that denied him balance) speaks to the desire that every hockey player has to win that trophy.

2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship: Alex Semin, Alex Ovechkin To Join Team Russia

2012-05-13T21:03:25Z

With the Washington Capitals season now over courtesy of a Game 7 loss on Saturday night to the New York Rangers, Alexander Semin and Alex Ovechkin will play for Russia in the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Via Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo! Sports Puck Daddy blog:

Team Russia coach tells @plysenkov he spoke with both Ovechkin and Semin this am and both will join the team in time 4 the Worlds QF. #Caps
— Dmitry Chesnokov (@dchesnokov) May 13, 2012

Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post bumped into Semin at the Capitals practice facility on Sunday and received confirmation that the two Alexs would indeed be playing for their homeland.

Just ran into Semin at KCI. #Caps winger confirmed that both he and Ovechkin will play for Russia at World Championships.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikElBashir) May 13, 2012

This will be Ovechkin's eight appearance and Semin's sixth for Team Russia at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

For more news and analysis on the Caps, visit Japers' Rink. For all your news on the NHL Playoffs, check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship: Washington's Nicklas Bäckström Will Play For Sweden

2012-05-13T20:15:32Z

After being eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs on Saturday night in Game 7 by the New York Rangers, the Washington Capitals' Nicklas Bäckström will play for his homeland of Sweden in the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. From the tournament's official site:

It was announced today that Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Bäckström has accepted an invitation to join the Swedish national team in time for the quarter-finals of the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

Bäckström is expected to arrive in Stockholm on Tuesday if everything works out. Sweden plays Latvia in the final game of the Preliminary Round that night at the Globe Arena.

This will be Bäckström's fourth time representing Sweden at the World Championship. In 22 World Championship games, Bäckström has amassed 13 points, scoring four goals.

For more news and analysis on the Caps, visit Japers' Rink. For all your news on the NHL Playoffs, check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL Playoffs 2012, Rangers Vs. Capitals: Blogger Reaction From Game 7

2012-05-13T19:44:54Z

The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers played a classic game 7 Saturday night, with the Rangers scratching out a hard-fought 2-1 victory to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Rather than go back over the game in their recap over at Japers' Rink, they thought a picture of what the coming weeks have in store would do much better.

As for the Rangers, they now must prepare for a showdown with the New Jersey Devils. The writers over at Blueshirt Banter had this reflection of the playoff run so far in their post-game notes.

The resiliency of this team is remarkable. It really is. Two Game 7's, a miracle Game 5 that was only possible based on this team's refusal to quit and 14 insane playoff games that have put us through the emotional roller coaster I mentioned above. I've been saying this since the start of the playoffs, you don't win the Stanley Cup you earn it. The Rangers are well on their way to earning this thing. They're winning the big games, stepping up when they need to and continuing to simply get the job done.

The Rangers are now just eight wins away from their first Stanley Cup since 1994.

For more news and analysis on the Caps, visit Japers' Rink. For news and info from a Rangers perspective during the series, visit Blueshirt Banter. And for all your news on the NHL Playoffs, check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012, Rangers Vs. Capitals: Game 7 Reaction

2012-05-13T18:54:45Z

The Washington Capitals suffered a devastating 2-1 loss in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the New York Rangers.

With the Capitals eliminated before reaching the conference finals yet again, the reaction has been mixed over whether the season has been a success or not.

Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy takes a look at the roller coaster of a season that the Capitals had, and had this to say.

"But in this oddest of odd years for the Capitals - the summer additions, the high expectations, the underwhelming play, Bruce Boudreau's firing, Dale Hunter's lack of impact and then sudden impact in the playoffs - the end result was an appearance in Game 7 of the conference semifinal. It's not where it should have ended based on preseason aspirations, but it's an achievement given what they've become."

In a post-game column for the Washington Post, Thomas Boswell says that this loss has given the Capitals a "new identity".

The Caps reasserted, even in their 2-1 loss at the hands of superb goalie Henrik Lundqvist, that they have found a new playing style - a new team identity really - under rookie Coach Dale Hunter that can keep their Window of Opportunity as a serious Stanley Cup contender open for years.

The Capitals will now embark on the offseason, looking to build on their playoff performance in 2012.

For more on the Washington Capitals, visit Japers' Rink.

2012 NHL Playoffs, Capitals Vs. Rangers Game 7: New York Edges Washington In Final Game Of Series

2012-05-13T02:16:51Z

With 10:05 remaining in the final period of a deciding Game 7, the Washington Capitals found themselves trailing the New York Rangers, 2-0. A comeback would be unmistakably difficult. And even though, the Caps would respond with a goal near seconds later, they fell nonetheless by a final score of 2-1 at Madison Square Garden, bringing about an end to their season just short of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The game, which had remained at 1-0 for nearly 50 minutes since a New York goal at the onset of the contest, changed midway through the third period when Michael Del Zotto scored to give the Rangers a commanding two-goal margin. Here's a clip of his goal.

Quickly, though, Washington responded with its first goal of the game on a shot from Roman Hamrlik.

But despite the response, the Capitals were held to just four shots on goal, including Hamrlik's score, over the course of the final 20 minutes, significantly lowering their chance of mounting any sort of come-from-behind win or even to just force overtime.

New York, which began the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the East, will now face the No. 6-seeded New Jersey Devils in the conference finals. Here's once last GIF of the goaltenders -- Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby -- afterwards.

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates throughout the Capitals and Rangers Eastern Conference semifinal series. For more news and analysis on the Caps, visit Japers' Rink. For news and info from a Rangers perspective during the series, visit Blueshirt Banter. And for all your news on the NHL Playoffs, check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

2012 NHL Playoffs, Capitals Vs. Rangers Game 7: New York Preserves One-Goal Lead After Two Periods

2012-05-13T01:11:49Z

Twenty minutes later, little has changed at Madison Square Garden. The New York Rangers still sport a 1-0 lead over the visiting Washington Capitals in spite of the Caps' 19 shots on goal. To a large degree, credit New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist for preserving that narrow margin, as he finished with nearly 20 saves over the course of the first two periods of Game 7.

Here's his stop on Capitals' right winger Mike Knuble during the second frame.

Similarly, Washington's Braden Holtby has been more than efficient between the pipes, as he has recorded 19 saves on 20 shot attempts.

Holtby had a nice block of his own in the second.