-Alaina Scarano-Isbouts
Welcome to another live blog by yours truly. Tonight’s game is the 7th meeting between the NY Rangers and the Washington Capitals in DC. The game hasn’t started yet but it should any minute. All times below are Eastern time, as that is where the game is being played. Let’s play some hockey!
9:33 – And the Caps get to feel what a game 7 victory is like after losing their game 7 in OT last year to Philly.
9:31 – Handshakes are over, and so is the Rangers’ season. Sergei Fedorov gets the game winning goal and Lundqvist ended with 22 saves.
9:28 – And it’s over. The Caps have won it.
9:27 – 30 seconds to go and it’s a Rangers time out. OMG OMG OMG.
9:26 – Less than a minute to go and Avery is hurt, Lundqvist is still in net…. 45 to go…
9:25 – 1:30 to go and they are changing “Lundqvist” … and it’s in the Rangers’ zone yet again.
9:24 – The Rangers’ defense is weakening now and they are letting in far too many shots get to their goaltender in the last few minutes of play. Let’s pray for a miracle, blueshirts fans…
9:23 – This is thoroughly depressing and upsetting. While the Rangers started so strong they have gotten progressively weaker during the game and the Caps have done the exact opposite. They have now outshot NY 19-15 and are in the lead. 3 minutes to go in the 3rd and things are getting frantic.
9:22 – SHIT.
9:20 – Capitals score thanks to Fedorov and his wrist shot. It’s now Washington 2-1. Bradley gets the assist.
9:19 – Avery dropped it behind for Dubinsky, who shot it wide and had it stolen out of the zone by Fedorov.
9:19 – 5:56 to go and it’s going to be insane.
9:18 – Update from NJ – at the end of the 2nd period, the Devils are still up 3-2.
9:17 – Avery just stopped by Jurcina after a breakaway and a clear shot at the net.
9:15 – Is it possible this series could be determined by one goal? Amazing.
9:13 – NY has only 1 shot on goal so far in the 3rd and Washington has had 7. They can’t rely on Lundqvist to win it for them – they have to get more shots off. Where’s my Dubinsky line?
9:11 – A bit more than 8 minutes to go in the game and it’s getting tense.
9:09 – Naslund got a shot off and Varlamov had to stretch, but he made the save. Dammit. Something has to happen here.
9:08 – And the crowd keeps getting louder. Boudreau can’t even talk to his players; he’s walking up and down the bench and tapping their shoulders to get their attention.
9:07 – Ovechkin is on the bench, looking pretty pissed. He knows he’s talked a lot of shit between games…
9:05 – Ovie just had the most unbelievable wrist shot and was robbed, once again, by Lundqvist… the fans are now taunting “Lundqvist”…
9:03 – Lundqvist is still key here. Washington is getting off much more shots, and as long as he stays strong and makes those saves he can help his team take the game. So far, Lundqvist has made only 14 saves (but faced only 15 shots).
9:01 – And the Caps are playing their best period so far 5 minutes into the 3rd.
9:00 – The Caps have officially passed NY for shots on goal, 15-14.
8:509 – And the Rangers killed off the must-win power play for the Caps.
8:57 – Ovehckin is in front, centering for the Caps 2nd power play. They’re now up to 14 shots on goal, it’s tied for SOG. Lundqvist makes the save on Ovie.
8:56 – Penalty on New York, it’s an interference call on Girardi. Ovechkin literally asked for the call – but of course Avery can’t ask for a call when he gets elbowed in the face by Erskine at the bench. Bullshit.
8:54 – This is going to be a goaltender battle… only 11 shots on goal for the Caps and 14 for the Rangers.
8:53 – Here we go, period 3, game still tied at 1 each. I’m already having a mild heart attack.
8:50 – HUGE power play goal in NJ by Brian Rolston to give the Devils a 3-2 lead.
8:49 – Still on my 2nd beer and had a sandwich for dinner. Boring! Let’s go 3rd period!
8:38 – And from NJ, Ray Whitney just scored the Hurricane’s 2nd goal to tie the game at 2. It actually went TWO different 5-holes.
8:37 – Cable box back on with 4 seconds left. Now the period is over and still – no further score. This is the first game this series that is tied after 2 periods.
8:35 – Huge save by Varlamov on Avery, it sounds like he just got robbed. SOUNDS. Because our cable box still isn’t working. 25 seconds to go with an offsides call.
8:34 – Sounds like Erskine just got a shot on goal but Lundqvist made an amazing save… less than 2 to go…
8:3 3 – Clark just had a great shot on a pass from Ovechkin and fanned on it – the game stays tied at 1.
8:32 – Cable box just froze so we are listening to the game on the radio the old school way… wow. Still intense. The crowd is going while right now with less than 4 to go.
8:27 – Less than 6 to go in the 2nd and there hasn’t been any more scoring. So Help Me God if this game goes in to OT…
8:25 – After more shots than I could ever type out, Varlamov covers the puck. Naslund and Gomez got two more shots on goal to bring it up to 13.
8:23 – The Antropov-Dubinsky-Avery line is out again and putting on some major pressure.
8:20 – Caps are getting more and more shots, now at 9 to NY’s 11. They are looking a bit better but Lundqvist keeps making those saves.
8:19 – For anyone just joining us, like my cousin from the theater, the game is tied at 1 almost halfway through the 2nd.
8:18 – Caps fans are boo-ing every time Avery touches the puck. He’s having a phenomenal game so far.
8:17 – Rozsival is back on the ice but obviously hurt and is having trouble with his left leg. He’s heading back to the locker room yet again now.
8:16 – Refs totally missed a too many men call on the Caps, who had 7 players on the ice and in play.
8:15 – NY now has 10 shots on goal and the Caps are at 6.
8:14 – Update from Jersey, at the end of the 1st period NJ is still up 2-1.
8:13 – Ovechkin a -1 so far with only one shot on goal. Rangers are back in Washington’s zone now and Gomez is doing one hell of a job with the puck.
8:12 – Lundqvist made another save right off the face off.
8:11 – Caps already have more shots on goal so far this period than they had in all of the 1st period. It’s going to be a tough one for the Rangers’ defense and Lundqvist.
8:09 – Kozlov just missed a WIDE OPEN NET and then was denied by Lundqvist. Everyone thought that was going in… but Lundqvist made the difference because of a Rangers turn over.
8:08 – Gomez has been skating without a helmet for a good minute now and the Rangers only got one shot off – the Caps are still on the defensive two minutes in to the 2nd.
8:07 – Here we go, start of the 2nd period. Buckle your seat belts – the Caps are going to come out with a vengeance in this period.
8:03 – Jay Pandolfo just scored to give the Devils the edge over Carolina back in Jersey. 2-1.
8:02 – If the Rangers win tonight they will face the Boston Bruins in the next round. Now that would really be something to watch.
8:00 – All the announcers so far are saying this is the Rangers’ best period yet and that the Caps are playing like they are overconfident. I’m not sure if I agree… but we’ll see.
7:50 – 1st is over, game tied at 1.
7:48 – Avery has been all over this puck in the last minute of the period. The focus is still all over him and his assist and three hits in this period. He is playing the way he should have been playing the whole series and being the kind of player his team needs him to be. Big hits and big contributions – hopefully we’ll see more.
7:46 – Fedorov shoots it wide and fails to get the Caps another shot on goal, so they’re stuck at 2.
7:45 – Updated from NJ, Carolina and the Devils are tied at 1 goal apiece after 17 minutes.
7:44 – Play has resumed, 4 minutes to go in the 1st.
7:40 – The game is on hold as officials change a pane of glass behind Lundqvist. The Caps fans are being LOUD but I have no idea what they are saying.
7:38 – Rozsival has gone to the locker room after a run-in on the ice and what looked like a twisted knee. Injuries don’t have to be announced during the playoffs so we’ll see if he returns.
7:36 – Caps have only had 2 shots on goal but have managed to tie the game. Assists go to Backstrom and Green.
7:35 – Right after the power play ended, Semin scored. Wrist shot after a 3-on-2. Game tied at 1.
7:34 – Gotta admit, Avery is looking pretty good tonight, he’s been strong with the puck and creating plays in the zone. Washington is back to full strength.
7:33 – And now it’s the Rangers power play; Caps got their first shot on goal during their power play. Rangers now have 7 on net.
7:32 – And a whistle for a penalty on Green comes just in time for the Rangers, as Ovie had the puck just waiting to shoot with Semin. 4-on-4 for 32 seconds and then it will be a Rangers power play.
7:28 – Antropov is going off for high sticking to give the Caps the first power play of the game.
7:27 – Washington can’t hardly get their sticks on the puck and for the first time this series really can’t control it. They are being over-worked and out-skated right now.
7:26 – Missed shot by Drury, went right over the net. He’s playing well though.
7:25 – If the Rangers win this game, who will be the MVP of this series: Dubinsky or Lundqvist?
7:24 – Almost halfway through the 1st and the Caps are still without a shot on goal.
7:22 – This line of Dubinsky, Antorpov and Avery looks amazing skating together on the ice yet again.
7:21 – Antropov gets his 2nd goal of this series and the 4th playoff goal of his career for the Rangers’ 5th shot on goal. The Caps still haven’t gotten off a shot.
7:20 – Crowd in DC is silent.
7:19 – ANTROPOV SCORES ON THE REBOUND! Rangers 1! Dubinsky and Avery get the assists and it’s looking like it’s all NY so far… Ovechkin is suspiciously quiet.
7:18 – Big collision behind the net as Avery gets lucky and isn’t called for a penalty, yet tries to draw one.
7:17 – Fantastic save by Varlamov, yet again. This kid is looking invincible as the Rangers get their 3rd shot on goal.
7:16 – So far the power is ALL on NY’s side. They are looking fantastic, 2 shots on goal so far to Caps’ 0.
7:14 – Chris Clark finally got his first shot in the playoffs since 2004.
7:13 – Caps don’t have a shot on goal yet — not one.
7:12 – Varlamov turned 21 yesterday. That’s a little scary.
7:11 – Right off the face off Sean Avery has already crashed the net and Nik Antropov just got robbed by Varlamov. Two breakaways for NY so far.
7:10 – Puck DROPPED, let’s have it!
7:09 – We have a much better beer for drinking tonight. Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Ale – one of my faves!
7:05 – For those of you who don’t know, Blair Betts is out tonight. He’s probably the best penalty killing forward for the Rangers, but he’s injured thanks to Donald Brashear and his horrible style of play.
7:04pm – Game hasn’t started yet. Just a heads up to all the anxious folk out there.
Good Job!
Glad you caught the end of the Carolina/NJ game.