Impact player Joel Ward’s double minor for high sticking cost the Capitals Game ?5. He caught Carl Hagelin in the face with 22 seconds left, leading to the tying goal with less than seven seconds left in regulation and the game-winner in overtime.
Under the radar
Washington’s penalty killers held New York without a shot on its first three power plays of Game ?5, but Brad Richards and Marc Staal scored on Joel Ward’s double minor to win Game 5.
Did you notice …
How the Rangers adjusted to Washington’s shot-blockers? Defenseman Anton Stralman faked a shot near the blueline, and Caps forward Matt Hendricks bit hard. Stralman had the space he needed to shoot and score from the left boards.
Behind the bench
After a rough Game 4, Rangers rookie Chris Kreider was dropped to the fourth line by John Tortorella. A force earlier in the series, it’s starting to look like the former Boston College player is hitting the wall thanks to the playoff grind.
Dale Hunter stuck with his tried and true players. He again tweaked the lines, flipping Troy Brouwer up top with Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich and Marcus Johansson back to the third with Jay Beagle and Matt Hendricks.
