Joel Ward Plays Hero; Capitals Take Game 1

Right winger Joel Ward is mostly already known as a Washington Capitals hero thanks to his famous Game 7 overtime goal against the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He added another Game 7 goal this past Monday night against the New York Islanders. Tonight, Ward scored with 1.3 seconds remaining in a 1-1 game, to allow the Caps to take a 1-0 series lead over the New York Rangers.

Washington left winger Alex Ovechkin got the scoring starting 18:13 into the game with his power play goal. He streaked down the left wing into the Rangers zone and used New York defenseman Dan Boyle as a screen. Ovechkin then sent the shot through the defenseman’s legs and sent the puck over Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist’s (27 saves) right shoulder.

Shortly thereafter, Ovechkin was picked up by a Madison Square Garden microphone skating by Lundqvist and saying, “All series baby, all series,” in the direction of King Henrik.

With New York buzzing in the Washington zone and 4:39 remaining in the game, Rangers right winger Jesper Fast tipped a shot from the point past Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (31 saves) to tie the game at one.

That’s when Ward played hero — again — with his game-winning goal coming just 1.3 seconds before the game-over buzzer. It would be his second goal of the playoffs. Ward is just the third player in NHL history to score a game-winning goal with two seconds remaining in a third period of a Stanley Cup Playoff game.

The Washington Capitals are now 6-1 all-time when Ovechkin scores a first-period goal in a Stanley Cup Playoff game. The team is also 3-0 in the 2015 playoffs when they score first and lead after two periods.