The first three first periods of the 2011 NHL playoff series between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers have featured zero goals. The fourth one was no different.
In what has become a broken record, the Caps and Rangers are scoreless after 20 minutes.
That isn't to say that neither team didn't have their chances. The Caps had an early opportunity when Matt Bradley fed Brooks Laich on a 2-on-1, but Henrik Lundqvist was there to make the save. When Brian Boyle literally bowled over Michal Neuvirth and got called for goaltender interference at 7:07, Washington got their first power play chance of the period, but could not convert. Boyle interfered with Neuvirth again at 18:55 and the Caps got one more power play, but Alex Ovechkin cancelled it out when he interfered with Brandon Prust as the latter was breaking away. Shots are 10-6 in favor of Washington.
The Rangers had two power plays, including a late advantage when Marco Sturm ran into Lundqvist, but they also didn't score. On New York's first power play, Laich blocked Bryan McCabe's slap shot from the point and limped off the ice. Already without Mike Knuble, an injury to Laich would have been costly, but he returned shortly after.