Rangers Vs. Capitals: Alex Semin’s Blast Gives Washington Big Overtime Win In Game 1

Of course, we all know how unfair that blame would be. Staal did in fact make a game-changing mistake Wednesday night, as is such in overtime during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Somebody always makes a mistake -- that’s probably how more than half the goals in the NHL are scored, let alone after 60-plus grueling minutes of playoff hockey.

After that much work in a night, you can understand how he could make a little error with the puck in overtime. Unfortunately for the Rangers, that little error led directly to a game-winning goal against.

Wait for the 40-second mark of this video, via CSN Washington.

The goal was Semin’s first in the playoffs since 2009, and it ended a stretch of 14 playoff games without a goal. He’s often stuck with the reputation of being a bit of scourge, but Bruce Boudreau didn’t shy away from talking about the importance of his role following the game.

After forty minutes of scoreless play, The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers each broke through with goals from Matt Gilroy and Alexander Ovechkin in the third period. Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series is tied at 1-1 after 60 minutes, as we head to the first overtime of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The shots are 23-19 Capitals after three periods, though New York outshot Washington 8-6 in the third.

At 1:56 into the third period, it was Wojtek Wolski who found Matt Gilroy with a fantastic pass from behind the net, and Gilroy just whipped it past Michal Neuvirth to give the Rangers the game’s first goal, despite being outshot 17-13 for the game at that point. It was Gilroy’s first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal.

Early in the third period, despite being outplayed for most of the first two, the New York Rangers have taken a 1-0 lead on the Washington Capitals at 1:56 of the third period in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series at Verizon Center.

It was Wojtek Wolski who found Gilroy with a fantastic pass from behind the net, and Gilroy just whipped it past Washington goaltender Michal Neuvirth to give the Rangers the game’s first goal, despite being outshot 17-13 for the game so far. It was Gilroy’s first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal. The Capitals haven’t been able to get on the board against Henrik Lundqvist, despite having numerous chances on the Rangers goaltender. They’ve seen numerous blocked shots, at least three goalposts, and a couple of whiffed chances.

Henrik Lundqvist remains the biggest star so far, but the New York Rangers gained a little bit more momentum in the second period. They remain scoreless in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with the Washington Capitals after two periods at the Verizon Center.

The Capitals started the second period killing off the last eight seconds of the Alexander Semin hooking penalty, which put the Rangers on the power play late in the first period. Washington was unable to get a shot off until six minutes into the period, but once they did, they were once again turned away by Henrik Lundqvist, and then some bad luck.

The Washington Capitals had a lot of momentum throughout the first period, but a series of posts and Henrik Lundqvist kept them off the board. Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with the New York Rangers is scoreless after 20 minutes.

The Rangers took the first penalty of the evening, a bench minor for too many men on the ice at 5:39 of the first. However, their goaltender Henrik Lundqvist came up big for them, making some great saves. Lundqvist made the biggest save of the period at the six minute mark, when he had to come across to make a save on Marcus Johansson alone in front. Lundqvist also made a save on a one-timer in the slot by Marco Sturm, fed terrificly by Jason Arnott. New York also made some key blocks in the first period, especially on Alexander Ovechkin, who had three shots turned away by defenders in the power play’s first 54 seconds. They eventually killed it off.

New York

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