Just six more seconds

I didn't really want to talk about the Caps-Rangers game the other night, but I feel that I must. It started very much as a mirror image of the game before. The Rangers came out very strong, and completely dominated the first period. Shots were 17-4, but, thankfully for the Caps, only one found the back of the net.

The second period was much more even (although shots still noticeably favored New York). But bounces went the Caps way, and the only goal came from Laich, when he found a deadened pass from OV in the slot, and put it past Lundqvist. That happened about midway through the period, and things see-sawed quite a bit afterwards.

Things started to really go the Caps way in the third, though, when the power play put together a really good sequence of shots, culminating in Carlson's point blast finding the top corner of the net. That happened four minutes in, and my first thought was, "Don't be content to play defense the rest of the game".

And they weren't. They continued to play quite well through the period, generating some very good chances. But things went south pretty seriously with twenty-two seconds left, when Ward got hit with a high-sticking call (four minute variety). The PK managed to hold on, 6-on-4, for sixteen seconds, but Holtby couldn't get his glove on top of a puck in front of him, and Richards poked it under him and into the net (but the blame shouldn't all go to Holtby; the defense failed to tie up Richards as well).

Unsurprisingly, that tying goal with six seconds left pushed the game into overtime. And, of course, the second half of Ward's penalty was still in effect. It took New York just over a minute and a half to find the net again. This time, it was a fairly innocuous-looking point shot from Staal that made its way into the net.

It was an incredibly disappointing result, especially when it was so close to going into the win column. And let's be clear; it was a phenomenal game by Holtby. The Caps can't be disappointed with his play. The skaters just allowed the Rangers too much time in the offensive zone. Eighteen shots (the Caps total for the game) just isn't enough, if you want to win.

Now the Caps have a very tough, uphill slog to try to win the series. Tonight, they face their first elimination game of the series. The only good thing about it is that at least it's a home game (not that that's been a panacea for them in the playoffs, but it was close to it in the regular season).

Let's hope they can bring the win, and be able to play again on Saturday.