The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers are headed to overtime again, after Brad Richards tied it up 2-2 with less than seven seconds remaining in the third period. The Caps added a power play goal less than five minutes into the final period to take a 2-1 lead they would hold until the final ten seconds of regulation.
Washington went on the power play after Marc Staal got caught out of position and Mike Rupp had to chase down Joel Ward, and was forced to take a hooking penalty to get back into the play and slow down the two-on-one breakaway.
The Capitals took the lead with a John Carlson power play goal. Ryan Callahan's stick broke of the first shot by Carlson on the power play. Callahan was at the top of the penalty kill without a stick, and when the puck rotated back to Carlson, the Caps defenseman ripped one past a kneeling Callahan who helplessly tried to block the rocket from the top. But Carlson's shot avoided Callahan and went right off the glove of Henrik Lundqvist to fall into the back of the net. Video of the goal below:
Braden Holtby and the Caps' defense would hold off the Rangers for the next 15 minutes until the Rangers tied it up with less than seven seconds remaining. With Henrik Lundqvist pulled, and Joel Ward in the box for high-sticking Carl Hagelin, Brad Richards would slide one through in a mad scramble on the left side of the crease. Richards put one past Holtby and right under the arm of Carlson, who was set up against the post. Video of the goal below:
This will be the second overtime game of the series, and it will begin with Ward still in the box.
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.