McDonagh makes no excuses
Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers gets the stick up on Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. (April 13, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
To his credit, rookie defenseman Ryan McDonagh didn't try to downplay his turnover on Alexander Semin's third-period goal in Game 4. It opened the gates for the Capitals to crash through with two more, erasing a 3-0 Rangers lead en route to a 4-3 Washington victory in two overtimes.
"It wasn't a tough break, it was a bad play," McDonagh said Friday. "I went to the bench and I was thinking about my teammates. That's what you do after a mistake like that."
McDonagh, 21, regrouped and played well the rest of the way, helping to control Alex Ovechkin & Co. He finished with a career-high 31:58 on ice. "I just had to forget about it and focus on the game," he said. "I wasn't going to give in. You have to be strong mentally and keep your head up, especially at this level, at this time of the year."
The physical play in his first playoff series has been quite an experience, said McDonagh, who had four of the Rangers' 69 hits in Game 4. "The Caps have been playing pretty hard and taking the body, too. And the double-overtime? Wow."
Blue notes
Coach John Tortorella said the personnel will not change. Defenseman Steve Eminger will be a healthy scratch for the fifth straight game . . . Henrik Lundqvist, who was not named as one of three Vezina Trophy finalists, will start his 31st consecutive game. He is 4-7 with a 2.60 goals-against average and one shutout in 11 career playoff games against Washington . . . Forward Mats Zuccarello, who was 6-17-22 in 42 games with the Rangers and was sent to Hartford on April 18, broke his hand Thursday night during the playoff game between the Connecticut Whale and the Portland Pirates.
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