The Rangers again found themselves in a tight game on Thursday night as the third period wound down and overtime loomed in their series opener against Washington at Madison Square Garden.
This was no surprise for a team that had beaten Pittsburgh, 2-1, four times in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But this time, the Capitals stunned the Rangers with a goal by Joel Ward with 1.3 seconds remaining, capping a physical contest that perhaps established a tone for the series, the fourth time in five years the teams are meeting in the playoffs.