The New York Rangers booked a second straight trip to the NHL’s Eastern Conference finals in dramatic style, as Derek Stepan’s overtime goal sealed a 2-1 win over Washington.
Stepan scored with 8:36 left in overtime to lift the Rangers to the game-seven victory, giving them a 4-3 series win over the Capitals in the second round of the Eastern Conference second-round set.
After an offensive zone faceoff win by the Rangers, Dan Girardi fired a shot from the blue line.
Braden Holtby made the initial stop, but Stepan was perfectly positioned at the left side of the net and wristed home the rebound past the Capitals goalie for an historic win.
New York improved to 7-0 all-time at home in decisive game sevens. And they became the first team in NHL history to rally from a 3-1 series deficit two seasons in a row.
Kevin Hayes also scored and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 35 saves for New York, who will host the Tampa Bay Lightning in game one of the conference finals on Saturday.
Alex Ovechkin, the confident Capitals captain who guaranteed his team a victory, provided his team’s only goal. Holtby stopped 37 shots in defeat.
Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle was knocked out of the game in the third period by a crushing hit from Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik.
Boyle got to his feet after the hit, but staggered and fell and had to be helped to the dressing room.