Marc Staal scored a power-play goal 1:35 into overtime after Brad Richards tied it in the dying seconds of regulation to lift the Rangers to a stunning 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night.
With goalie Henrik Lundqvist pulled for an extra attacker, Washington’s Joel Ward took a four-minute penalty for high-sticking Carl Hagelin with 21.3 seconds left in the third period. Richards tied it on the first half of the power play with just 7.6 seconds to go, and Staal won it with a drive that appeared to deflect of a Washington player before beating goalie Braden Holtby.
The top-seeded Rangers can advance to the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday in Washington. If necessary, Game 7 would be back in New York on Saturday.