LOS ANGELES. When everyone was waiting for the signal for the third period and the extension in Madison Square Garden, Washington made the victory target.
With just 1.3 seconds left.
– Glad we won. Little fluency, but it must be to have sometimes, says Nicklas Backstrom to Sportexpressen after 2-1 victory.
It was Bäckis kedjekamrat Joel Ward pushed the puck between the pads of a desperate Henrik Lundqvist since the Rangers defenders completely lost mark in front of the cage.
It all started when Backstrom posted a heavy challenge on Dan Boyle bottom right border corner and managed to poke up the puck along the boards to Alexander Ovechkin.
Capital Russian captain took off behind the bag and held off Ryan McDonagh courtship.
From a tight angle suited Ovietjkin puck diagonally out in front of the cage, where Ward klipte to directly.
– I knew there was very little time left, but we managed to get the puck. Little fluency, but it must be to have sometimes said Bäckis.
Fixed made his first
Washington took the lead in the match in the powerplay after 18:13 of the first period when Ovechkin sent in the way a wrist shot from the top of the left face-off circle past a reversing Boyle and the club glove on Henke.
It took until 15:21 of the third period before the Rangers managed to level the score, and it was Jesper Fast, who could rejoice his first goal in the Stanley Cup.
A shot from Kevin
Washington was away victory in New York in the opening match of the quarter-finals tonight, Swedish time, a dream win.
When asked if there was something that surprised him with this game responds Nicklas Backstrom:
– No, I can not say. They’re good, so we have to raise ourselves in the next game if we are to have a chance to win.
Holtby best on the ice
Holtby was appointed to the runway’s best player after his 31 saves before Ovechkin and Henrik Lundqvist, who stopped 27 shots.
The Rangers announced before the game that it will be without Norwegian striker Mats Zuccarello throughout this match series against Washington. He was wounded by a shot to the head from teammate Ryan McDonagh in the eighth finals against Pittsburgh.
Washington coach Barry Trotz sat back fighter Brooks Orpik that more or less point mark Rangers target bargain, Rick Nash, and it turned out well.
For the Rangers, it was a heavy loss, but it has come back after underdog with 0-2 in games against Washington in the past playoffs, so everyone expects a long quarterfinal between these teams.