It's a good thing the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers started their Game 2 at 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday, because they needed more than three periods to score a goal. It's 0-0 after three periods, which means the teams are headed to overtime -- though the entire third period felt like overtime the way the goalies are playing.
Capitals vs. Rangers Game 2 update: Braden Holtby, Henrik Lundqvist force overtime
They are going to play a fourth period, because NHL rules require a goal be scored before they end this thing.
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They are scoreless for a bunch of reasons: mostly because Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby have been very good, but also because they have gotten good luck when they needed it:
That was Lundqvist as Nicklas Backstrom beat him but didn't score.
Now here's Rick Nash hitting the post behind Holtby late in the third period:
(Ahem, what I mean to say is that’s just good positioning by both goaltenders. That’s what goalies always tell me anyway.)
Another bit of luck may have come the Capitals' way when they killed a late Rangers power play, only to invite another one. With just 45 seconds left, Karl Alzner one-handed his stick at the puck in the defensive zone, and it popped up and over the glass, replays showed.
The officials did not call the automatic penalty for delay of game, and to add to the confusion, the scoreboard horn went off before the next faceoff. That horn normally goes off when a play is being reviewed on instant replay, but a play like this is not reviewable by rule.
Ovechkin with a nice cross
One non-goalie highlight from the third period: Alex Ovechkin gave us a masterful example of why broadcasters so often say, "He's European, he must play soccer." His subtle kick-pass at center ice created a Capitals 2-on-1 (which Lundqvist stopped, of course):
Time for overtime. No telling when this thing will end, but we know it will end 1-0.
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