Washington — Looks like they can't take the New York Rangers out of the game. Granted, they didn't allow a wayward bounce goal or have seven penalties called in five minutes.
Once again, they responded to everything the Washington Capitals threw at them and are now one win away from the second round.
Vincent Trocheck had a power-play goal and a short-handed assist, Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves, and the Rangers defeated the Capitals 3-1 in Game 3 on Friday night, making it three in the first of seven. They led by -0. round series. They can advance with a win in Game 4 on Sunday night.
“We're playing really well, but we need to win one more game, so we're focused on the next game,” Shesterkin said.
The Rangers were evenly matched 5-on-5, 5-on-4 up, 4-on-5 down in a special teams showcase by the Presidents Trophy winners, who finished the NHL regular season in first place thanks in part to a strong power play. He scored a goal with his strength. Trocheck set up Barclay Goodrow shorthanded and scored on the power play, tipping the puck over to Chris Kreider for his playoff career-high 42nd goal.
On the other side of the rink, Shesterkin looked like his 2022 Vezina Trophy winner, making a right pad stop to take out Max Pacioretty, who was in front of him, and put away Alex Ovechkin, who has gone scoreless this postseason. Ta. Shesterkin had a perfect performance after allowing John Carlson to score on a shot off Mika Zibanejad's stick just over five minutes into the game.
“Shesty was obviously great again,” Trocheck said. “He's a great goaltender. We need him to be the backbone of this team. He's been doing that for years.”
Washington was trying to keep play as 5-on-5 as possible to make the series more even, which New York had a chance to dominate, but once again was unable to do so. Almost his third of the game (18 minutes, 31 seconds) was on special teams, which worked in the Rangers' favor.
It also made things difficult for goaltender Charlie Lindgren. Lindgren allowed three goals on 22 shots despite having a few key stops. Lindgren carried the burden late in the season and led the Capitals to the playoffs, but he hasn't been able to get into the rhythm of showing off the same heroics and making it into a series.
“Throughout the series so far, they've come up with big moments, whether it's the answer, whether they're coming up with the next chance, things like that,” said Washington defenseman, who played a game-high 30 minutes. John Carlson said. change. “That's a shame.”
The Caps were also unaffected by injuries, once again without two of their top four defensemen in Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin. Midway through the first period, Trevor van Riemsdyk took a high hit from Rangers rookie Matt Lempe, resulting in yet another loss. Lempe could face another disciplinary hearing six weeks after receiving a four-game suspension for an illegal head test in March.
“That was a tough hit,” Capitals center Nick Dowd said. “I think one player took advantage of another player's weakness. You obviously want Reames to be okay.”
Vancouver 2, Nashville 1 (at): Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith finally earned his first postseason win, helping the Vancouver Canucks regain home-ice advantage in the process.
DeSmith made 29 saves Friday night as the Canucks held off the Nashville Predators 2-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series to open the NHL playoffs.
“The timing couldn't have been better,” DeSmith said of his first playoff win. “I was really disappointed with how I played last night. I thought our team played great last night, but we didn't get the result we deserved. And I thought we really brought it tonight. So it means a lot.”
This was DeSmith's second consecutive start and third overall in the playoffs since Thatcher Demko missed the series opener with an injury. DeSmith gave up three points on 15 shots, and Vancouver lost Game 2.
“His demeanor fits the role perfectly,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said of DeSmith.
JT Miller had a power-play goal and an assist, and Brock Boeser's power-play goal was the winner. Quinn Hughes had two assists.
Game 4 will be played Sunday in Nashville.
Luke Evangelista hit a wrister top shelf with 3:12 left to help Nashville avoid a shutout. Coach Andrew Brunette then called a timeout with 2:10 left and pulled goalie Juuse Saros. Nashville again was unable to get the puck past DeSmith.
Brunette said it was a fun game and praised the Canucks' good defense.
“Like I said, the whole series is going to be a quagmire,” the brunette said. “It's going to be difficult and we still have to do a better job of getting in.”
The Canucks became the first team to win a playoff game with just 12 shots on goal since Pittsburgh defeated Nashville in Game 1 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.
Eastern Conference Playoffs bracket
Rangers vs. Capitals
(Rangers lead 3-0)
▶ Game 1: Rangers 4-1
▶ Game 2: Rangers 4-3
▶ Game 3: Rangers 3-1
▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Washington, 8 p.m.
Bruins vs. Maple Leafs
(Bruins lead 2-1)
▶ Game 1: Bruins 5-1
▶ Game 2: Leaf 3-2
▶ Game 3: Bruins 4-2
▶ Game 4: Saturday @ Toronto, 8 p.m.
Panthers vs. Lightning
(Panthers 3-0 lead)
▶ Game 1: Panthers 3-2
▶ Game 2: Panthers 3-2 (OT)
▶ Game 3: Panthers 5-3
▶ Game 4: Saturday @ Tampa Bay, 5 p.m.
Hurricanes vs Islanders
(Hurricanes lead 3-0)
▶ Game 1: Hurricanes 3-1
▶ Game 2: Hurricanes 5-3
▶ Game 3: Hurricanes 3-2
▶ Game 4: Saturday @ NY Islanders, 2 p.m.
Western Conference Playoffs bracket
dallas vs vegas
(Golden Knights 2-0 lead)
▶ Game 1: Vegas 4-3
▶ game 2: Vegas 3-1
▶ Game 3: Saturday @ Las Vegas, 10:30 p.m.
▶ Game 4: Monday @ Las Vegas, TBA
Winnipeg vs. Colorado
(Series tied 1-1)
▶ Game 1: Jets 7-6
▶ Game 2: Avalanche 5-2
▶ Game 3: Friday @ Colorado, 10 p.m.
▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Colorado, 2:30 p.m.
vancouver vs nashville
(Canucks 2-1 lead)
▶ Game 1: Canucks 4-2
▶ Game 2: Predators 4-1
▶ Game 3:Canucks 2-1
▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Nashville, 5 p.m.
Edmonton vs. Los Angeles
(Series tied 1-1)
▶ Game 1: Oilers 7-4
▶ Game 2: Kings 5-4 (OT)
▶ Game 3: Friday @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
michigan area hockey
Tuesday
▶ Saginaw 3, Sault Ste Marie 1
Wednesday
▶ Toledo 6, Kalamazoo 2
Thursday
▶ NTDP U18s 9, Slovakia 0
Friday
▶ Toledo 4, Kalamazoo 2
▶ London 3, Saginaw 1
Saturday
▶ Rockford @ Grand Rapids, 7 (AHL)
▶ NTDP U18s vs. Norway, 10:30 a.m. (Hockey Network)
▶ Toledo at Kalamazoo, 7:15
Sunday
▶ NTDP U18s vs. Latvia, 11 a.m. (Hockey Network)
▶ Grand Rapids vs. Rockford
american hockey league playoffs
Middle district semifinals
(Best of 5 series)
▶ Game 1: Saturday @ Grand Rapids, 7
▶ Game 2: Wednesday @ Rockford, 7
▶ Game 3: Friday @ Rockford, 7
▶ Game 4: Sunday, May 5 @ Grand Rapids, 4
▶ Game 5: Friday, May 10 @ Rockford, 7
Middle district semifinals
(Best of 5 series)
▶ Winner of Milwaukee vs. Texas Manitoba
ECHL
Middle district semifinals
(Best of Seven Series)
▶ Game 1: Toledo 3-2 (OT)
▶ Game 2: Toledo 5-2
▶ Game 3: Toledo 6-2
▶ Game 4: Toledo 4-2
Road to the Memorial Cup in Saginaw
(Saginaw will be held from May 24th to June 2nd)
▶ Friday, May 24th: WHL vs. Saginaw, 7:30
▶ Saturday, May 25th: OHL vs. QMJHL, 4
▶ Sunday, May 26th: Saginaw vs. QMJHL, 7:30
▶ Monday, May 27th: OHL vs. WHL, 7:30
▶ Tuesday, May 28th: QMJHL vs. WHL, 7:30
▶ Wednesday, May 29th: Saginaw vs. OHL, 7:30
▶ Thursday, May 30th: Tiebreaker (if required)
▶ Friday, May 31st: Semi-finals, 7:30
▶ Sunday June 2nd: Last, 7:30
CHL Playoffs in WHL, OHL, QMJHL
western hockey league
▶Saskatoon Blades vs. Moose Jaw Warriors
▶ Prince George Cougars vs. Portland Winterhawks
ontario hockey league
▶ Oshawa Generals vs. North Bay Battalion
▶ London Knights vs. Saginaw
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
▶ Bay-Comeau Drucker vs. Cape Breton Eagles
▶ Drummondville Voltigers vs. Victoriaville Tigres
