Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012: Overtime Excitement Highlights Thursday’s Action

Though both teams played cautious hockey at times while matching each other up, the true uncertainty came from the Caps’ camp entering the contest thanks to shaky defense and unexperienced goaltending.

Carlson, who really stood out Thursday night, received much criticism through the regular season in just his second NHL year. The coaching change early in the season came while Carlson was also adjusting his game to a slightly more stay-at-home style, and by the end of the year, Carlson seemed to have settled a little bit more in his new role. It showed in Game 1, especially with the miscues from his fellow blueliners.

The 4-2 final score flattered the Senators, as the night saw the Rangers steadily build a 4-0 lead over three periods. The Rangers’ forecheck and disciplined backchecking appeared to confound the Senators, and the result was the kind of easy Game 1 victory you’d expect from a top seed like the Rangers.

The only mildly scary moment was when the Senators strung together a few threatening shifts when the Rangers lead was still just 1-0. But a John Tortorella timeout seemed to calm things down, and before long the Rangers had expanded the Senators’ deficit.

But for such a high-stakes battle between Western Conference powers, the game unfolded in surprisingly methodical form. The first period saw only 11 shots on goal combined, the total after four-plus periods a modest 42-34 for the Blues.

All of which was a recipe for the Sharks to steal a road victory and home-ice advantage in the series. The Blues are the superior 5-on-5 team, but the Sharks wield a dangerous powerplay threat that they put to good use in staking a second-period lead on Havlat’s first goal of the game.

It remained to be seen if Phoenix’s decision to go with Smith as their main man was a wise one or if it was just another step towards mediocrity for the embattled franchise.

Smith was a perfect 11-0-0 with a 1.42 goals-against average and .952 save percentage during the month of February, deservedly earning the NHL’s First Star of the Month honors.

Ottawa got both of its goals in the third period. See our StoryStream for full coverage of the series, and get fan reaction at Rangers blog Blueshirt Banter and Senators blog Silver Seven.

Holtby deserved a better fate. The Capitals goaltender, only in goal thanks to injuries above him on the depth chart, was phenomenal all game long for his club. The Bruins dominated the first two periods, and the only reason this game wasn’t a blow out much earlier was Holtby. It’s an unfortunate loss for him.

For the Capitals on the whole, however, it’s probably a just result. Boston stomped all over them for the better part of two periods, and even though it seemed as though the teams switched jerseys in the third period, the Bruins ended the game with 62 shot attempts: 30 shots on goal, 10 missed shots and 22 which were blocked. That’s a winning formula, regardless of how it gets done.

Callahan opened the scoring 12:01 into the first period when he corralled a rebound off a shot from the point, sliding the puck just between the goalpost and the left skate of Senators goalie Craig Anderson. Anton Stralman and Artem Anisimov received assists on the goal.

New York extended its lead late in the second period when Gaborik picked up a loose puck and slipped through Anderson’s five hole with 3:36 remaining. That was followed by a snap shot by Brian Boyle in the final minute of the period that gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead entering the final 20 minutes.