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Dubinsky lifts Rangers over Capitals in Game 3

Apr 18, 2011 - 12:10 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Brandon Dubinsky's tally with 1:39 left in regulation lifted the New York Rangers over Washington, 3-2, in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal set.

Vinny Prospal and Erik Christensen also scored for the Rangers, who can pull even in Game 4 in Manhattan on Wednesday.

Henrik Lundqvist made 23 saves to earn his first win of these playoffs.

"We have to make sure we don't get too excited about this. We're still down in the series and there's still a lot of work to be done," said Dubinsky. "We have to make sure we get back to work as usual and correct mistakes we made and be ready for a tough Game 4."

Alex Ovechkin and Mike Knuble hit the net for the Capitals, who had taken the first two contests in America's capital.

Michal Neuvirth played well in defeat, stopping 32 shots.

Dubinsky's game-winner started by carrying the puck along the goal line to the left of the Washington net. After a stick move near the crease, his shot popped in the air, and appeared to slide off Caps defenseman Karl Alzner before floating up and over Neuvirth.

"We had too many guys in the corner in a 4-on-4 situation. Then, they come out and Dubinsky throws it at the net, it hits our guy in the shoulder, bounces over our goaltender and goes in the net. It counts," was all that Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau offered about the deciding goal.

The Caps went with an extra skater for most of the remaining time to no avail.

The Rangers had a 5-on-3 for an 85-second span late in the first period and failed to convert, but tallied the game's first goal on a power play early in the second.

Christensen fired from a sharp angle at the top of the right circle, and the puck found a small space under the crossbar at 5:30. However, two more New York advantages produced little.

The Capitals finally equalized with 59.2 seconds left, as Ovechkin tipped a Jason Arnott shot over a prone Lundqvist from the slot.

As the seconds ticked away in the period, Ruslan Fedotenko shot from behind the net, and the resulting carom off Marian Gaborik's skate managed to roll over the goal line. A lengthy review determined that the disc was not fully over the line before the clock hit all zeros.

"They just continue to go about their business," said Rangers head coach John Tortorella of his club's mindset despite a 2-0 series hole. "You have to play at a level each game that is better than the last, and I think they've done that each time."

New York took a 2-1 edge at 8:01 of the third period when Prospal was alone at the right side of the crease to slam home a Marc Staal rebound, but Knuble potted a Nicklas Backstrom rebound and tied the game with 5:12 remaining on a power play.

Game Notes

Washington had never had a 2-0 series edge over the Rangers in any of its previous five playoff meetings....The Capitals also won the first two contests of its last two postseason series (2009 ECSF vs PIT, 2010 ECQF vs MTL) but lost both...Ovechkin now has 22 goals in 31 career playoff games...Referee Chris Rooney sustained a leg injury in the second period and did not return...He was replaced by backup referee Frederick L'Ecuyer.