Avery Sits And Rangers Can’t Close Out The Caps

Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin scored a spectacular goal to help Washington win 4-0 and send the series back to Madison Square Garden for game six of the best out of seven series. However, it was Matt Bradley’s two first period goals that put the Capitals on top from the get go.

To say that the Rangers looked flat would be the understatement of the year. While watching this one, it looked as if the Capitals were playing with an extra skater all night long. Washington controlled the tempo right from the opening whistle.

After compiling 24 penalty minutes through the first four games of the series, Rangers coach John Tortorella chose to bench forward Sean Avery for game five. This seemed to take all the fire out of the Broadway Blue-shirts.

“I’m not going to explain it at this moment,” said Tortorella. “It was my decision and that’s what it was.”

Expect to see Avery back in the line-up for game six in New York, but that might not be enough. Though the Rangers lead the series 3-2, the Capitals have out scored New York 12-7.