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Ryan Callahan says the Caps “were more desperate” in Game 2

Braden Holtby, Karl Alzner, Ryan Callahan

Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) makes a save as Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner (27) fends off New York Rangers right wing Ryan Callahan (24) in the first period of Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, April 30, 2012. The Capitals defeated the Rangers 3-2. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

AP

The intensity the Washington Capitals brought in their Game 2 victory helped show the New York Rangers that this playoff series wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. After getting outworked in Game 1, the Capitals tapped back into what helped them get past the Boston Bruins in the first round.

CSNWashington.com’s Chuck Gormley hears it from Rangers captain Ryan Callahan they expected a big push back from the Caps and handled it poorly.

“They were more desperate than they were [in Game1],” Rangers captain Ryan Callahan said after the Capitals evened their bet-of-seen series with a 3-2 win at Madison Square Garden. “I thought they competed a lot harder; we expected that. We knew they were going to come out hard.”

Desperation like Washington showed in Game 2 helped make sure they could go back home all even.

Outside of Alex Ovechkin’s game-winner, the goals weren’t pretty to see. They were dirty, grimy, blue-collar style goals that saw the Capitals force play on the Rangers and make them uncomfortable. Doing all that while Braden Holtby (and the iron behind him) kept New York out is just how Dale Hunter wants to see things. Keeping that desperation level up the rest of the way will be the trick the Caps need to pull off if they want to get to the Eastern Conference finals.