2015 NHL Playoffs: Rangers Defeat Caps, 2-1 in OT, Send Playoff Series Back to D.C.

Ryan McDonagh scored 9:37 into overtime and the New York Rangers kept their Stanley Cup hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal.

Chris Kreider breathed life into the Presidents' Trophy winners by scoring with 1:41 left in regulation to force the overtime.

The Capitals lead the series 3-2. Game 6 is Sunday night in Washington.

Henrik Lundqvist made 28 saves for the Rangers, who have won each of their past nine playoff games when facing elimination at Madison Square Garden — dating to Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference semifinal round against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Braden Holtby made 41 saves for Washington, which was less than 2 minutes away from its first conference final since 1998 before New York rallied. Curtis Glencross scored for the Capitals.

On the winner, Jesper Fast kept the puck in the Washington end sent a pass to Derek Stepan in the left circle. Instead of shooting, Stepan hesitated and found McDonagh coming late down the middle. His shot flew into the net and set off a second loud celebration at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers were 1:41 from seeing their season end when Kreider tied it from the top of the left faceoff circle after taking a pass from Stepan and firing a shot to the far corner past Holtby.

As Kreider swiped the air with a roundhouse, it set off a wild celebration that had the Garden shaking.

The goal came seconds after Lundqvist left his net for a sixth skater.

Until the goal, it seemed that the Capitals were going to win on Holtby's second shutout of the series and another winning goal by one of Washington's unknowns.

Joel Ward had the winner in the opener. Jay Beagle and Andre Burakovsky had the winners in Washington and Glencross seemed destined in Game 5. He broke through with 9:06 left in regulation, scoring on a breakaway after being sent in all alone by defenseman Matt Niskanen.

Lundqvist actually stopped the breakaway attempt, but Glencross chipped the rebound over the prone netminder.

The goaltenders have been the stars of this series and Holtby and Lundqvist put on another show in Game 5.

Holtby set the tone early stopped 14 shots in an opening 10 minute onslaught by the Rangers. He was at his best against Martin St. Louis, making three outstanding saves, including a post-to-post pad save early when Rick Nash set up the one-time league scoring champion for a slam dunk in the crease.

Holtby also had an outstanding glove save early in the second period and a stop on a redirection later in the period.

Lundqvist was just as good although he needed a little help from the officials late in the second period to keep the game scoreless.

Niskanen, who earlier cleared a loose rebound of Stepan's shot off his own goal line, fluttered a shot into the net from the right point. Referee Kevin Pollock immediately waved off the goal, ruling that Ward bumped Lundqvist and was guilty of interference.

The Capitals objected but the call stood after the officials talked it over.

There were 29 shots, two goalposts and no goals in a fast-paced opening period. The Rangers came out flying and took 14 of the first 18 shots. Martin St. Louis hit a post and also was stopped by Holtby and his pad on a point-blank slam-dunk attempt. Nicklas Backstrom hit iron for Washington, which came on late and finished with 13 shots.

NOTES: There was a moment of silence before the game for slain NYC police officer Brian Moore, who was buried earlier in the day. ... The crowd chanted "Zucc! Zucc!" when injured Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello was shown on the overhead. He has not played in the series after being hit in the head by a shot in the final game against Pittsburgh. ... The crowd had its celebrities — Donald Trump, John McEnroe and Michael J. Fox.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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