The worst truths are the ones that are painful.
For the New York Rangers, the painful truth is they have played well in the first two games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series and yet are returning home down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
Mike Green’s power-play goal eight minutes into overtime was the only marker in the Capitals’ 1-0 overtime win Saturday afternoon at the Verizon Center. Game 3 is Monday night at the Garden.
Green’s game-winner came exactly one minute after Ryan McDonagh was assessed a two-minute minor for delay of game, and set off a wild celebration inside the raucous arena.
The goal was Henrik Lundqvist’s lone mistake in an oft-spectacular 37-save performance. Lundqvist made 25 saves in the final two periods of regulation and overtime.
Washington was 1-for-2 on the power play.
Unlike Game 1, the Rangers were far more physical in Game 2 and were able generate zone time. The Rangers generated 57 shot attempts, threw more hits (58-50) and blocked more shots (21-13).
Those were undeniable positives.
But the undeniable negatives are that the Rangers went 0-for-3 on the man advantage, and were unable to solve Braden Holtby. The Capitals' netminder stopped all 24 shots he faced.
Washington has outscored the Rangers, 4-1, in the first two games of the series.
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
