Rangers Vs. Capitals, Game 2: Michal Neuvirth Makes 13 Saves In Scoreless First Period

Despite each team getting a power play chance, the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals played their second consecutive scoreless first period. The teams are tied at 0-0 after 20 minutes in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series. The Capitals lead the best-of-seven series, one game to none.

Both teams came out fast, with the Rangers having a much better start than Game 1, forcing a lot of shots on Michal Neuvirth. The Rangers came out with a 4-0 lead in shots through the first three minutes of the game. Though the Caps were able to get a chance or two of their own, none of them initially made it to Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers definitely had a jump in this game early.

John Carlson went to the Caps locker room early, but returned a little later in the period. Karl Alzner looked to be heading down the Capitals runway after blocking a shot and appeared to be limping, but did not miss a shift. The shot-blocking brigade has continued into Game 2 (blocked shots were 32-28 Washington in Game 1), as Artem Anisimov was hurt by a Jason Arnott slapper. The Caps finally got their first shot of the game at 6:07 of the period. Jason Chimera was denied by Henrik Lundqvist.

The Capitals got the first power play of the game at 8:04, when Ryan McDonagh went off for interference, after he committed an infraction upon Marco Sturm. The Capitals were unable to connect on the power play, despite being able to set up Ovechkin for a shot at least once. Washington is 0-for-1 in the game on the power play, 0-for-3 in the series so far.

At 17:52, Matt Bradley hit Matt Gilroy late, and from behind, and got called for charging. The Rangers were given the power play for essentially the rest of the period. They nearly gave the Caps a goal, as Brooks Laich tried to feed Mike Knuble on a 2-on-1, but he missed the net wide. Knuble got a rebound chance, but Lundqvist made the save. The Rangers were unsuccessful on their lone first period man advantage, and are also 0-for-3 in the series.

Marain Gaborik cut across the zone for a wrister on Neuvirth, the best chance of the game so far for either of the two big European scorers (Gaborik or Ovechkin) in the period. Neuvirth made the save. Both goaltenders looked pretty solid in the first period. Neuvirth made 13 saves in the first period, and was probably the best Capital on the ice. Lundqvist made seven saves.