WASHINGTON (AP) — Dominant in nearly every facet of hockey, the New York Rangers outmatched the Washington Capitals to move on to the second round of the NHL playoffs in sweeping fashion.
They won all four games thanks to talent advantages from the net out, superior special teams and a blend of depth and balance. They're the first team to advance and in the process looked every bit like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Dominant in nearly every facet of hockey, the New York Rangers outmatched the Washington Capitals to move on to the second round of the NHL playoffs in sweeping fashion.
New York Rangers players shake hands after defeating the Washington Capitals in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
New York Rangers players celebrate after defeating the Washington Capitals during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) makes a save during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin celebrates with left wing Chris Kreider after scoring a goal during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
“The sign of a good team is when there is depth and balance," said forward Barclay Goodrow, a back-to-back champion with Tampa Bay in 2020 and '21 who had a goal and two assists in the series.
“Come this time of year, you need everyone on your team,” he added. "Everyone’s leaned on to contribute in whatever way you contribute to your team. ... It’s been great for us, and it’s something that we’re going to need to continue.”
Goodrow was one of 10 New York players to score a goal and 14 to register a point against Washington, while Igor Shesterkin stopped 94 of 101 of the shots he faced in another strong showing two years since wining the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender. The Rangers scored two short-handed goals, killed off 15 of 17 Capitals power plays and did enough at 5 on 5 to get through some games that were tighter than the end result indicated.
“I just think that it says that we’re a good hockey team,” said Vincent Trocheck, the Rangers' leading goal-scorer with three and the best player on the ice all series. “We showed it every game.”
Up next is likely a formidable challenge from the Carolina Hurricanes, who are up 3-1 on the New York Islanders after failing to finish it off in a sweep. The Rangers won two of their three games against Carolina this season, including a 1-0 shutout last month, but also lost 6-1 to the Hurricanes in January.
One benefit they have this time is some extra time off, which players from the deep 2022 run playoff run understand is beneficial after going through seven-game series in each of the first two rounds that time and feeling the toll it took on them in losing to Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference final.
“The seven-game series will pile up on you, so, yeah, obviously that’s a big factor, I think, to keep as fresh as we can,” captain Jacob Trouba said. "I also think that was a good experience for us, a learning experience to be put in that situation, so I think that’s going to bode well for us moving forward.”
As will their depth that has so far kept any player from averaging more than 23 minutes of ice time, a far cry from the Capitals needing top defenseman John Carlson to play nearly half of every game because of injuries on their blue line.
New York has not had to overtax Trocheck, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Mika Zibanejad or MVP candidate Artemi Panarin. Coach Peter Laviolette has “a lot of trust in all our players” and is less worried about matchups against particular opponents because of that balance.
“Anyone can play against anyone,” defenseman Braden Schneider said. “We balance out well and everyone knows their role and plays hard doing it, so I think we do a great job of just being hard to play against no matter who’s out there.”
That helps particularly on the road. Though by winning the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top team during the regular season, the Rangers have home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Game 1 against the Hurricanes or Islanders will be at Madison Square Garden — but only after they can take a few days to heal up and get ready for the next step on a journey they hope will take them to the franchise's first championship since 1994.
Asked how far he and his team can go, Shesterkin muttered only: “We will see.”
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
New York Rangers players celebrate after scoring against the Washington Capitals during the first period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
New York Rangers players shake hands after defeating the Washington Capitals in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
New York Rangers players celebrate after defeating the Washington Capitals during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) makes a save during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin celebrates with left wing Chris Kreider after scoring a goal during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
DALLAS (AP) — Colorado defenseman Cale Makar scored two goals, the second after Casey Mittelstadt's go-ahead tally in the third period, and the Avalanche beat top-seeded Dallas 5-3 in Game 5 on Wednesday night, snapping their three-game losing streak and extending the second-round Western Conference Series.
Mittelstadt scored just 1:12 into the third period to make it 3-2, which was the first time the Avalanche had led in the series except for when Miles Wood scored 11 minutes into overtime to win the series opener.
Makar added an unassisted goal just over three minutes later. His shot from the middle of the right circle that went through the legs of goalie Jake Oettinger and proved to be the deciding goal.
League MVP finalist Nathan MacKinnon scored with 3:10 left on a lone assist from Artturi Lehkonen, whose power-play goal in the final second of the first period came with an assist from MacKinnon.
Avalanche goalie Alexander Georgiev had 23 saves. Oettinger stopped 22 shots.
Joe Pavelski had his first goal of these playoffs for the Stars, and had his second assist this postseason. Miro Heiskanen and rookie Logan Stankoven also scored for Dallas, and Jason Robertson had two assists.
Game 6 is Friday night in Colorado, where the Stars outscored the Avs 9-2 while winning Games 3 and 4. Dallas is 4-1 on the road this postseason — and 3-4 at home.
This was the sixth time in franchise history that the Avs won Game 5 after falling behind 3-1 in a best-of-seven series. They have never come back to win the series.
After going 0 for 8 on power plays while losing the previous three games, the Avalanche scored tying goals on both of their opportunities with a man advantage in the first two periods.
Makar got his power-play goal on a 50-foot wrister through a bunch of traffic in front of the net with 3 1/2 minutes left in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.
Mittelstadt's go-ahead goal came after Zach Parise hit the puck across the crease and Mittelstadt knocked it in, a ricochet off the right post that hit the back of Oettinger's leg and went in.
Pavelski scored on a backhander from just outside the crease after a pass from Matt Duchene midway through the first period, after Robertson had poked the puck away from Colorado defenseman Josh Manson.
After 14 games without a goal, including the last three games of the regular season, Pavelski got his 74th career playoff goal to extend his record for the most by a U.S-born player. That is also the most by any active player.
Colorado got even at 1-1 with 0.6 seconds left in the first period on Lehkonen's slap shot from the top of the slot.
Heiskanen scored his fourth goal in this series, and his fifth of the playoffs. He dropped the puck back to Pavelski, who passed ahead to Robertson, who made a move toward the right side of the net before a nifty crossing pass to Heiskanen on the other side of Georgiev.
Rantanen secondar assist on Makar's first goal was his 100th career playoff point (33 goals and 67 assists). It came in his 80th career postseason game, making him only the eighth NHL player to reach that milestone in that many games or fewer. He is only the fourth player in Avalanche franchise history to reach 100 playoff points — Joe Sakic’s 188 tops that list.
It was Colorado coach Jared Bednar’s 49th playoff victory, matching Bob Hartley for the most in playoff history. Both have led the Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles, Hartley in 2001 and then Bednar their next one in 2022.
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Speaker 1: you’re expecting a big push back from them, and they have a really good game. Just. How do you how do you balance that out? And it’s just a series. Yeah. I mean,.
DeBeoer: We knew we were going to get their best game in the series and they did. And their big guys ar all are on the scoresheet tonight which we’ve probably anticipated would happen. You know we still are right there in that game. You know I liked our second period. You know a couple things happen that you know are really self-inflicted this time of year. It’s really hard to win. One’s the goal at the end of the (Fir) ... You’ve got to get get out of the period there. THeir power play goes two for two. That’s a I mean, I know we had a penalty at the end, but, you know, that was kind of a moot point. So tough to win when those type of things aren’t in your favor.
Or in your favor. For your team. Every time you faced adversity in this postseason, you found a way to rally what’s allowed your group to do that. And with Jake specifically, he’s 11 four in his postseason career coming off the loss, what makes him so good in these situations? Yeah.
DeBeoer: Well, I mean, just, you know, he’s, he’s a response guy. You know, he has been, you know, in my entire time with him. And. listen, this is a hard league to beat any team four times in a row. Never mind the Colorado Avalanche. When when you’re in the conference semifinals and you’re down to eight teams left in the league. So, you know, it would have been a great thing to have accomplished it tonight. I think our effort was in the right place. We did some things. But you have to, you know, give them credit. They played a real good road game. We’ve got to go down there and respond. And, you know, Jake is part of that. And him and our group have to go in there and do what we did earlier in the series and and win some road games.
A shot by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, not visible, gets by Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) for a goal during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29), Jonathan Drouin (27), Devon Toews (7), Artturi Lehkonen (62) and Cale Makar (8) react after Makar scored a goal against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, top, during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) reacts after teammate defenseman Cale Makar (8) scored a goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. Looking on are Stars' Thomas Harley (55) and Tyler Seguin (91). (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Zach Parise (9) and Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) compete for the puck during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell (23) falls on the ice while challenging Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) for the puck during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) and Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) chase after the puck during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) reacts after receiving a high stick from Dallas Stars defenseman Chris Tanev (3) during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar passes the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) eyes the puck after a power play scoring shot by teammate Cale Makar, not visible, during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. Looking on are Stars' Jake Oettinger (29) and Esa Lindell (23). (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) skates by his bench after scoring a power play goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (16) celebrates his first period goal with Miro Heiskanen, left, and Ryan Suter in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Stars players celebrate a goal by Joe Pavelski, center, during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
