NHL: Braden Holtby stars as Washington Capitals edge ahead
Last Updated: 05/05/15 8:06am
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby turned aside all 30 shots he faced to lead the Capitals to a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers and a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final.
Holtby had to deal with a late barrage from the Rangers, whose goalie Henrik Lundqvist was pulled for an extra attacker, but he stood firm.
Capitals center Jay Beagle scored the game's only goal with 7:31 gone in the second period and Holtby’s biggest save came not long after that on a breakaway by Rangers right winger Martin St Louis.
Beagle's goal, his first of the 2015 play-offs, was a little fortunate.
After shooting left of the net, Beagle hunted down the puck and swung in a centre which cannoned off the back of Lundqvist's left skate and into the net for his third career play-off goal.
Lundqvist stopped 18 of 19 shots for the Rangers, who have had each of their last 10 play-off games decided by one goal.
Game Four will take place on Wednesday at the Verizon Center in Washington.
