You want to know exactly how long Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Capitals and New York Rangers was? Here's how long it was:
-At 114:41 of game time, it was the third-longest game in Capitals history, behind only Game 7 of the 1987 Patrick Division Semifinals against the New York Islanders (128:47, the so-called Easter Epic) and Game 4 of the 1996 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins (139:15). The Capitals lost both of those games as well. Also, since both those games were played at the old Capital Centre/USAir Arena, Wednesday night's game was the longest game in the 15-year history of the Verizon Center.
-This was the fifth-longest game in Rangers history and their longest since March 21, 1939, when the Blueshirts lost Game 1 of their playoff series against the Boston Bruins, 2-1, on a goal by Mel Hill. Hill, who also scored OT winners in Game 2 and 7 of the series, earned the nickname "Sudden Death" Hill for his heroics.
-This was the 20th-longest game in NHL history, and the longest since Brendan Morrow's goal lifted the Dallas Stars over the San Jose Sharks at the 129:03 mark of Game 6 of the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals.
-Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh deserves special recognition for logging 53:17 seconds of ice time. Since the NHL began keeping official track of ice time in the late-1990s, no Ranger has played more minutes in a single game. A few minutes of Googling, which is admittedly an inexact science, tells us that McDonagh's feat of Wednesday night is only surpassed by defenseman Sergei Zubov, who logged 54:09 in the Dallas Stars' triple-overtime win over the Sabres in Game 6 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals.
At a certain point, words fail you, so here are some GIFs that encapsulate the entire game. Get ready.
And finally ...