The New York Rangers have defeated the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semi-finals series by a score of 2-1 in OT. The Rangers are now 7-0 in Game 7s at Madison Square Garden. This is the 1oth time the Capitals have blown a lead in a series of at least two games. Last year in the second round the Rangers also pulled of a miraculous comeback from being down 3-1 to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins. This is the second Conference Finals appearance for the Rangers in as many years. They have now won 10 consecutive home elimination games, dating back to 2008, the longest streak in NHL history. After the Capitals lost Game 6, Alex Ovechkin guarenteed the Capitals would win the series.
The Capitals opened the scoring when Ovechkin beat Henrik Lundqvist after a lackadaisical turnover by Ryan McDonagh with 7:11 left in the first period. The Rangers did not play well in the first but improved in every period from there. 13:38 minutes into the second period, after an absolutely beautiful pass from J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes knotted the game up at one on the power play, assisted by J.T. Miller and Ryan McDonagh. The third period was very competitive but there was no scoring. In the third period, Brooks Orpik left his feet and hit a defenseless Dan Boyle up high, who was dazed and left the game. The Capitals came out in OT playing well, spending lots of time in the Rangers zone, and getting 8 shots in OT. With 8:42 left in OT, Derek Stepan won a faceoff in the Caps' zone and passed it back to Keith Yandle who passed it to Dan Girardi who took a shot that ricocheted off Braden Holtby right to Stepan, who cashed in on the rebound into the gaping net. After the puck went in the entire crowd erupted and the bench flew over the boards and into the corner to greet Stepan and celebrate.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Rangers will run up against familiar foes for both sides, in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Former Rangers Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman and former captain Ryan Callahan (out with an emergency appendectomy) all play for Tampa while the Rangers have Dan Boyle and Martin St. Louis, both of whom used to play for Tampa. The Rangers posted a picture of the puzzle with the caption “#NYR cup puzzle is 50% complete" and the broadway hat winner, Derek Stepan.