NHL playoffs 2013: Bruins and Rangers advance

So after playing such a solid defensive game for six games, the Washington Capitals just lost their way. At the worst possible time. Washington was routed by the Rangers 5-0 in Game 7 and will hit the links early next week.

The Capitals dug themselves a deep hole in the first two frames, and scoring four goals to beat Henrik Lundqvist was going to be one hell of a task.

First, the goal, a rebound winner from Patrice Bergeron. He snuck behind two defensemen -- Cody Franson and Jake Gardiner -- and put the loose puck into the empty net.

From that point, the celebration was underway, from the bench to the ice...

And then at 6:05 of the first overtime period, Bergeron would score again to win it:

The Boston Bruins will move on to face the winner of the Capitals-Rangers series in the East.

via goldandorsmith.com

From just watching this game, it’s hard to say that either the Capitals or Rangers are dominating the other team. And yet Washington faces a daunting task in the third period, down 3-0 to New York.

The Rangers struck quickly in the second, catching the Capitals defense tracking the puck the other way before Taylor Pyatt potted a rebound past a sliding Braden Holtby.

The Rangers will begin the second period shorthanded for about a minute and change.

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The Boston fans weren’t happy that there was no call on Phaneuf, but some of their anger should be directed at Lucic for allowing himself to be goaded into such an unnecessary penalty during a Game 7.

The Bruins were back on their heels for much of the second, and trailed the Leafs in shots after two periods 13-20.

Boston came out flying, with scoring chances and aggressive play dictating the game early. The Maple Leafs responded in kind, and within the first five minutes it was clear this would be the most physical game of the series thus far:

Toronto would tie the game minutes later, and this time it was because Cody Franson did something RIGHT: