Second period dooms Rangers in playoff opener

Capitals 3, RANGERS 1

This was not exactly how the Rangers drew it up. Then again, the way this season has gone for the Rangers -- nothing has come easy.

 Leading the Washington Capitals 1-0 in Game 1 of their opening round playoff series, the Rangers watched the Caps catch fire in the second period scoring three unanswered goals to beat New York.

After a solid finish to the regular season since the Marian Gaborik trade, that saw the Rangers catapult from being barely a playoff team to the number six seed in the Eastern Conference, many thought drawing Washington in the first round was a real boon to the Rangers playoff hopes.

This was not the start they envisioned.

After Carl Haglin's goal late in the first period the Rangers fell asleep at the wheel in the second period, committing three penalties, and watching the Captials play in three separate power play opportunities. It was not until Washington's third power play of the period, that they finally scored to tie the game on Alex Ovechkin's wrist shot, and from there it was down hill.

The Capitals score two more goals in a matter of 0:46 seconds in the middle of the period, first on a shot by Marcus Johansson and later by Jason Cimera to make it 3-1, Washington.

It's not like the Rangers didn't have chances -- they took 28 shots on goal in the final two periods of play, but nothing went into the net as Brandon Holtby saved 35 shots on the night for the Capitals.