ECSF vs. WSH G7: NYR advance to ECF for first time since 97

The Rangers on Saturday night put on a show for the ages. They played a FULL 60 minutes of Ranger hockey and did an incredible job of playing with the lead for 58:30 minutes of tonight's game. The Caps had only 4 shots on goal in the third period, which is an astounding defensive achievement to hold off a team like the Capitals facing elimination. Tonight's Rangers looked nothing like the team that showed up in Washington last Wednesday and had the Ranger faithful looking at Game 7 with a glass half empty attitude. Tonight's Rangers got bodies in front of Holtby, who never seemed as settled and locked in like his counterpart 200 feet away. Tonight's Rangers forechecked and cycled the Caps to death, unlike at any other point in this series, save for Game 1. Hagelin and Gaborik were all over the ice. It can't be overlooked how tremendous Brad Richards' goal 90 seconds into the game was.

The one lone mark against the Rangers was Roman Hamrlik's goal just 38 seconds after Del Zotto put the Rangers up two at the 10:05 mark of the third period. I hate to kill the kid again, but Kreider was partially responsible for allowing Laich to center the puck to a pinching Hamrlik who basically floated one up and past Lundqvist.  Kreider did a half ass job getting his stick in the passing lane when he should've noticed Hamrlik flying into the offensive zone. Worse, Kreider then became a spectator watching Hamrlik (of all people) blow past him. Kreider never saw the ice for the remainder of the game after the Caps' goal. The other half of responsibility for the goal against goes to Del Zotto. I'm dumbfounded at the way Del Zotto stepped up to Hamrlik when he jumped into the play. Del Zotto for some reason decided to defend Hamrlik by spinning around counter-clockwise, facing his back at the shooter, allowing Hamrlik to get a clean shot on net.

All in all, it was a fantastic night for the Rangers who now advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1997. This series against New Jersey is going to become another epic battle. Remember what happened the last time these two teams met?

Yeah, get ready for an all out war.
MAAAAAAAAARRRRTTTTYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!