Game on, Lundqvist vs. Varlamov, as expected. Caps replacing suspended Brashear.

Rangers pushing hard from the start. They have the first 4 shots of the game, plus 2 wide. Caps with only two attempts: one blocked (Laich), and one missed (Gordon).

And Rangers score!!! On their 5th shot. Antropov, from Dubinsky and... Avery (I was more or less sure that he would be back, and Betts and Orr are out, anyway). 1-0 Rangers.

But with Antropov in the box, now, Caps have an opportunity to get some shots on goal and maybe tie the game.

Caps get a shot, denied, but Green goes to the box for interference.

Green out of the box leading a rush, to Backstrom, to Semin, SCOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!! 1-1.

Assists to Backstrom and Green, of course.

Caps actually scored on their second shot of the game. Shots are 8-2 Rangers so far.

Hurricanes with a goal only 1:02 into the game at Devils. If the Caps win and the 'Canes win, Caps will meet the Pens in the next round. If the Devils win, they'll be the Caps' next opponent.

But Devils tied the game 1:29 later.

End of first period in Washington. 1-1. Good point for the Caps, who have been badly outplayed by the Rangers, but managed to kill their advantage.

Sounded like Gordon and Clark did some very good defensive job in this period. Good for Clark.

Caps slowly coming back in the second period, as far as shots are concerned, still 1-1, near mid-game.

And the second period ends with no goal and no penalty. The series will have to be decided in the last period, and possibly overtime.

Shots this period were 9-6 Caps, so the Rangers are still leading 14-11 in this department (very low numbers), but it's 1-1 the score, and that's what counts.

Matt Bradley, the interview: "If we want to keep playing, we better come out and have a better 3rd period."

 

edit: I left on the Semin goal, and apparently didn't miss a thing. For a Game 7, this is pretty boring hockey.

Laughlin, as the 3rd starts: "Let's hope the third is the charm, because the Caps have to pick up their play...."   and the Caps get the early PP in the (possibly) deciding period....

... and, killed.

5:25 gone.... I almost hate to see either team win this, neither one deserves it (although to be honest, the Rangers have done more with less tonight- just heard that Rozsival was out for about 10:00 in the 2nd, the caps didn't take advantage of that? Oh, my.... )

Shots are 6-0 Caps in this period. At least they create more opportunities, but we've known that last year. Go, Caps!

And good save by Varlamov, on the Rangers' first shot of the period.

Caps have the SOGs this period something like 7-0, but it's still 1-1.....

waiting to lose this on a sudden fluke goal.

5:56 left to regulation, still 1-1 and a time out.

Caps with only one penalty so far, but Devils with only two.

3-2 Devils at the second intermission.

FEDOROV SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!!! The big goal! 2-1 Caps.

No excitement, right now, defensive play, hard work from the 3rd line.

Goals only scored by Russians, so far, and the Caps have more of them, it's all good.

EDIT: Antropov is actually from Kazakhstan, hehe.

Ovechkin with a big chance to kill the game, but Lundqvist with the great save!

I said "no excitement", but I had typed "FedoVOrov", hehe.

One minute left, Lundqvist still in goal.

And if he's still there, it's because he has some job to do, with Semin and all.

Only assist on Fedorov's goal was from Bradley.

15 seconds...

The fans are going berserk... Kolbe too... Caps win!!!!

Fabulous goalie we have there. Only one goal allowed in such an important game. He has some nerves. Congrats to the team! They really deserved to win this round, but it has been very hard.

Yeah, I guess they earned it tonight. Nice to see them move to the next round, let's see which team shows up. First game should be Friday or Saturday, looking like NJ?

There's a full period to play in New Jersey, we shall see. I don't really know what is best for Caps, Pens or Devs. I'd say it would be great to beat the Pens, but it may be easier to beat the Devs, I don't know. Won't be that easy, anyway, so it doesn't really matter.

And another game where Ovechkin was not a key (at all). It probably means that he'll be big in the next round. This series was mostly Semin, Backstrom and Varlamov, and that shows in the stats: first in goals, first in assists, and soon first in GAA and save percentage.

I'll be here for game 90. More playoff hockey for the Caps, great! We're usually left rooting for another team at this point.

Good night, Roger.

Just watched the video, as soon as it was posted. What a goal by Fedorov! Ovechkin was waiting for the pass or a possible rebound, but Fedorov believed in his chances. Great move and quick shot.

Lundqvist made also some awesome saves, Caps deserved to win.

Hurricanes won 4-3, thanks to 2 goals in the last 1:20, without even pulling their goalie. Caps will meet the Pens in the next round.

And once again, Alex Semin HUUUUUGE in the playoffs- I think Ovie just sits back and watches. And to think some at official say Fedorov is done.... that goal last night paid his entire salary and then some.