Rangers Vs. Capitals, Game 1: Lundqvist Large In Scoreless First Period

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.

However, the Rangers went short a man once again a few minutes later. Mats Zuccarello took a boarding penalty at 10:13, on a hit from behind in response to some physical play by Washington. Nicklas Backstrom nearly found Mike Knuble alone in front of Lundqvist, but Knuble whiffed on the chance. Lundqvist was large again on this penalty kill, with a glove save on a creeping in from the point Mike Green. The Rangers once again killed off the full two minutes, with Washington going 0-for-2 on the man advantage in the first period.

The Caps had numerous chances throughout the first. Semyon Varlamov made a big pad save on Erik Christensen a little more than five minutes in.The Caps continued to pour it on, as Alexander Semin rifled one off the crossbar nearly 15 minutes in. Not even a minute later, Jason Arnott got a free giveaway in the slot, and rang it off the iron as well. Overall, the penalties seemed to slow any momentum the Rangers could’ve mustered, though they were only outshot 9-5. Henrik Lundqvist was easily the MVP of the first period, regardless of team. He made a save on Ovechkin off a weird bounce from the boards without even seeing it with less than four minutes to go.

Towards the end of the period, the Rangers were given a power play chance, as Alexander Semin took a careless hooking penalty in the offensive zone at 18:08. The Caps were able to block shots on their own, and killed off most of the penalty. The Rangers will begin the second period with an :08 second power play.