Rangers put pressure on Capitals’ Neuvirth
Michal Neuvirth knew what was in store for him at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
The New York Rangers had put exactly one puck past the Capitals’ 23-year-old goalie through the first two games of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series. A concerted effort to rattle him was on New York’s agenda for Game 3. Rangers forward Sean Avery fell on Neuvirth. Vinnie Prospal and Brandon Prust both ran into him as they skated past his crease. Erik Christensen was whistled for a goalie interference penalty.
“They’re doing all of that stuff and trying to get him off his game,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “But the good thing about Michal is it doesn’t seem to affect him. We have to protect the goalies, both the team and the officials.”
| Green is ‘fine’ |
| Caps defenseman Mike Green is “fine” after getting clipped by Rangers defenseman Marc Staal during the second period Sunday, coach Bruce Boudreau said. Green was hit in the head by the back of Staal’s arm after he lost the puck. He dropped to his knees for several seconds before rising to participate in the goal celebration. Green did return for the third period and — according to Boudreau — didn’t need to go through the NHL’s mandatory concussion evaluation process, in which a player sits in a quiet room and is evaluated for symptoms. Green didn’t participate in Monday’s optional skate at Kettler Iceplex. Only 11 Caps players took the ice. |
| EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS |
| Caps vs. Rangers |
| (Washington leads series 2-1) |
| Game 1 » WAS 2, NYR 1 (OT) |
| Game 2 » WAS 2, NYR 0 |
| Game 3 » NYR 3, WAS 2 |
| Game 4 » Wed. at NYR, 7 p.m. |
| Game 5 » Sat. at WAS, 3 p.m. |
| Game 6 » Mon. at NYR, TBD* |
| Game 7 » Apr. 27 at WAS, TBD* |
| * If necessary |
That’s not to say Neuvirth escaped unscathed. The Rangers scored a series-high three goals Sunday. The game winner was a bad break after the puck bounced off defenseman Karl Alzner and was swept in accidentally by Alex Ovechkin.
But New York’s persistence paid off earlier in the third period when a Staal shot deflected off the stick of Marian Gaborik in front of the net, off Neuvirth’s elbow and rebounded right to Prospal at the left doorstep for a tap-in goal. After Mike Knuble scored to tie it again, Brandon Dubinsky won the game for New York with 99 seconds left.
“I still didn’t see a replay, but that was an unlucky goal,” Neuvirth said of Dubinsky’s tally. “That’s hockey. That’s playoffs. That’s history. It happened last night, and we’ve got to move forward.”
Neuvirth needs a short memory if he is to play well Wednesday in Game 4. His teammates, meanwhile, have to balance protecting their goalie from the Rangers with avoiding penalties of their own in the process. It had nothing to do with Neuvirth, but Caps rookie defenseman John Carlson reacted after getting repeatedly hit after a whistle by New York forward Brian Boyle. Both players were sent to the penalty box, and Dubinsky took advantage during four-on-four play.
“It’s a really double-edged sword because if we start doing something we’re going to get retaliation penalties, which is what you tell the guys not to do,” Boudreau said. “You’re hoping that they’re being called. If it’s not called, there’s not much you can do without getting involved in four-on-four situations.”
