Coaching move pays off for Dale Hunter
Head coach Dale Hunter of the Washington Capitals looks on. (April 14, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
WASHINGTON -- Did Dale Hunter out-coach John Tortorella?
Early on he did after he moved Alex Ovechkin off the point and into the slot on the power play, and Ovechkin one-timed a pass high past Henrik Lundqvist for the 1-0 lead at 1:28 that set the tone for the game.
"It's just one of those changes we make," Hunter said. "We thought that Alex, with his big shot, could get a shot off. One of their players fell and really left an opening and a shot from there by Ovi doesn't miss very often."
Tortorella, meanwhile, declined to answer questions about his shuffled line combinations or individual skaters who were outplayed.
Rookie Chris Kreider played 6:06. Brandon Prust had seven hits but didn't have a shot on goal. He was on ice in the last two minutes. Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov (one shot) were non-factors.
Happy to be home
The Rangers have won 2 of 3 at Madison Square Garden in this series and won Game 7 against the Senators, so Ryan Callahan believes that can help Saturday. Callahan said: "That's what we play for all year, home-ice advantage . . . Home ice advantage helps when it's Game 7. We have to be ready to go, feed off the crowd, and get a win."
Blue notes
The Rangers won just 42 percent of the faceoffs. Nicklas Backstrom, who had two assists, won 10 of 15 faceoffs. Brad Richards lost 12 of 17 . . . The Caps, who blocked 24 shots to the Rangers six, are 4-0 after overtime losses . . . Dan Girardi recorded his sixth assist and Stepan his seventh on Gaborik's fourth goal of the playoffs . . . John Carlson and Mike Green had assists for the Caps . . . Braden Holtby stopped 10 of 11 shots in the third period.
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