Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Discuss: Rangers exploit double-minor for amazing comeback win

Brad Richards, Dan Girardi

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Brad Richards #19 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammate Dan Girardi #5 after scoring a goal to tie up the game late in the third period against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Will Washington forward Joel Ward’s four-minute high-sticking penalty prove to be the turning point of this series? Washington seemed to be on their way to a 2-1 victory and 3-2 series lead when Ward was penalized with 22 seconds remaining in regulation time.

Brad Richards netted a power-play goal with just 6.6 seconds left on the clock to tie the game. The penalty was a double-minor, so the Rangers started overtime with the man advantage and Marc Staal found the back of the net 1:35 minutes into the extra frame.

Maybe the Rangers would have pulled off the comeback even without the penalty, but it certainly made things easier for them.

Here’s a few interesting notes:


  • In addition to scoring the game-tying goal, Richards won 12 of 18 faceoff opportunities.
  • This was another big shot blocking game for Washington. The Capitals got in front of 25 shots.
  • The rink was tilted in the first period. The Rangers had 17 shots to Washington’s four through 20 minutes of play. Despite that, the Capitals weren’t completely devoid of scoring chances early on and the Rangers only had a 1-0 lead going into the second frame.
  • Maybe it’s because Washington was trailing or tied with the Rangers for most of this contest, but Alex Ovechkin got plenty of ice time. He finished the game with 19:08 minutes.