Semin Strikes for OT Victory: Caps 2, Rangers 1

As the 2011 playoffs began tonight, the Washington Capitals sought redemption for what haunted them last spring against the Montreal Canadiens. And tonight, in game one against the New York Rangers at Verizon Center, the tide shifted quickly for a 2-1 overtime win for the home team.

Alex Semin, who did not score against the Habs last spring, notched the game winner on a one-timer past New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist at 18:24 of the extra session. Semin found a seam in the offensive zone and had just enough time to uncork the winning shot. It was part of a solid game for Semin, who has found chemistry with Jason Arnott and seems to be playing with a newfound determination.

The Caps also did something they couldn't do against the Habs: block more shots than their opponent. Tonight, they held a 32-28 advantage in that department and thoroughly stuck to what helped them succeed in the second half of the season.

Both regulation goals were scored in the third period. The Rangers opened the scoring at 1:56 when Matt Gilroy flicked the puck over Neuvirth's shoulder with lots of traffic in front. Alex Ovechkin scored the Caps' only goal at 13:44, when he poked it past Lundqvist as part of a scrum. The Caps' captain continued jabbing at the puck, after Lundqvist thought he had saved it, and managed to get it to cross the line. The play went to review and was ruled good, even though the net was dislodged and the whistle blew (but after the puck crossed the line, according to the officials).

The goaltending and defense in this game were stupendous throughout. Michal Neuvirth made 25 saves for the Caps and was solid, if not spectacular, all night. Jose Theodore was pulled each of the last two playoff seasons after starting (and losing) the first game, and it seems that Neuvirth did more than enough to reverse that trend.

Lundqvist was equal to the task on the other end, making 33 saves and getting plenty of help from his two best friends, the crossbar and post. If not for that metal intervention, the Caps could have captured the game in regulation.

Many critics said that Lundqvist could steal the series for the Rangers, whose blocked shots and defense would frustrate the Caps. Well, these aren't the same Caps that failed in previous postseasons. And, if tonight's game is any indication, the playoff tide may be turning in the nation's capital.