Stanley Cup Playoffs notebook: Wednesday, May 13

WEDNESDAY'S RESULT

Home Team in Caps

NY RANGERS 2, Washington 1 (OT) – NYR wins series 4-3

STEPAN'S OT GOAL LIFTS RANGERS INTO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Derek Stepan scored at 11:24 of overtime and Henrik Lundqvist made 35 saves to power the New York Rangers past the Washington Capitals and into the Eastern Conference Final for the second straight year and third time in the past four seasons.

* The Rangers improved to 9-5 all-time in Game 7s, including a 7-0 record at home (all since 1992). They are the only team in League history to play at least four Game 7s at home and win each of them.

* Kevin Hayes tied the score at 1-1 with his power-play goal at 6:22 of the second period. The Elias Sports Bureau says the Rangers overcame a deficit (of any margin) to win a Game 7 for the first time in franchise history.

* Since losing to the Capitals in seven games in the 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Rangers have won six straight Game 7s. That matches the NHL record set by the Detroit Red Wings from 1949-64 and equaled by the Boston Bruins from 1983-94.

* The Rangers also became the first club in NHL history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in consecutive years. They accomplished that feat for the first time in franchise history in the 2014 Eastern Conference Second Round, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7 at Consol Energy Center (2-1 W).

* The Rangers improved to 14-3 in their last 17 postseason games when facing elimination (dating to Game 6 of the 2012 EQF vs. the Ottawa Senators). They have won eight of their last nine such contests during the past two years. Elias says the most wins in NHL history when facing elimination over two playoff years is nine, set by the New York Islanders in 1975-76.

* The Rangers extended their own NHL record by winning their 10th consecutive postseason game when facing elimination at Madison Square Garden, dating to Game 4 of the 2008 ESF vs. Pittsburgh.

* The Rangers improved to 2-2 all-time in overtime in Game 7s; they are 2-0 at Madison Square Garden. Their other OT win in Game 7 came on May 27, 1994, in the Eastern Conference Final vs. the New Jersey devils, when Stephane Matteau scored at 4:24 of the second overtime.

* The Rangers improved to 40-48 in 88 all-time overtime games (19-19 at home) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They are 4-0 this year (3-0 at home).

* Each of the 12 games the Rangers have played during the 2015 playoffs has been decided by one goal. New York has played 14 straight one-goal games dating to Game 4 of last year's Final against the Los Angeles Kings, the longest such streak in Stanley Cup history.

* The Rangers will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final. The clubs have never met in the playoffs; Tampa Bay won the regular-season series 3-0-0 (NYR: 0-3-0).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

* Derek Stepan scored his first career playoff overtime goal (73 GP). His two previous playoff game-winners also came against the Capitals, in Games 3 and 4 of the 2013 EQF (both 4-3 W).

* Stepan had 1-3—4 in the final three games vs. Washington, including the primary assist on Ryan McDonagh's overtime winner in Game 5. Stepan (3-5—8) is tied with Derick Brassard (5-3—8) for the team scoring lead this postseason.

* Henrik Lundqvist (35 saves) matched a career high for saves in a Game 7 – highlighted by a point-blank stop on Jay Beagle early in the game – to improve to 6-1 with a 0.97 goals-against average and .966 save percentage and one shutout in career Game 7s.

* Lundqvist has won each of his past six Game 7 appearances (dating to 2012 EQF vs. the Ottawa Senators), extending his NHL record for consecutive Game 7 wins by a goaltender. His feat of allowing one or fewer goals in each of those contests is an NHL record.

* Lundqvist's 0.97 goals-against average in Game 7s is the lowest in NHL history (minimum 3 GP); his six career Game 7 wins are tied with Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy for the most in League history.

* Lundqvist also improved to 14-3 in the last 17 games in which the Rangers have faced elimination (1.39 GAA, .956 SV%, 2 SO). That includes an 8-1 record during the past two years.

* Kevin Hayes scored his first goal since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Pittsburgh, when he had his first career playoff goal at 3:14 of overtime.

* Via Elias, Hayes is the second rookie in Rangers history to score a goal in a Game 7; the other was Muzz Patrick in the 1939 SF at Boston. Hayes finished fifth among rookies with 17-28—45 during the regular season (79 GP), including 11-18—29 in his final 36 games.

* Seven Rangers maintained their unblemished records in Game 7s: Carl Hagelin (6-0), McDonagh (6-0), Stepan (6-0), Chris Kreider (5-0), Rick Nash (4-0), Brassard (4-0) and Kevin Klein (3-0).

* ICYMI: Click here to watch the handshake line between the Rangers and Capitals . . . The Empire State Building was lit in red, white and blue to celebrate the Rangers' series victory.

GAME 7 TRENDS

* The Rangers and Capitals faced off in a Game 7 for the fourth time overall and the third consecutive playoff series (also 2012 ESF and 2013 EQF; each was won by New York).

* Home teams improved to 94-65 (.591) all-time in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 3-0 record this year.

* The club that allows the first goal improved to 42-117 (.264) all-time in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including 1-2 this year.

* Forty all-time Game 7s have required overtime (40-of-159, 25.2%), with home teams evening the record at 20-20 (.500) in those games.

2015 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS BRACKET CHALLENGE

Among the more than 800,000 entries for the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge powered by Samsung, 71.8% picked the Rangers to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

Only 3,102 brackets (0.38%) have correctly selected the winner of all 12 series that have been completed thus far in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

FINALIZED CONFERENCE FINALS MATCHUPS, SCHEDULE

The matchups for the Conference Finals of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been set:

Eastern Conference

(M1) N.Y. Rangers vs. (A2) Tampa Bay

Western Conference

(P1) Anaheim vs. (C3) Chicago

Click here for the finalized dates, times and national broadcast information for the Conference Finals.

2015 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS THROUGH TWO ROUNDS

Of the 69 games contested thus far in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

* 44 (63.8%) were tied or within one goal entering the final five minutes of regulation, including all three Game 7s;

* 27 (39.1%) saw the winning team overcome a deficit at some point in the game, including five in which the winning club overcame a multiple-goal deficit;

* 15 (21.7%) required overtime, including three that went to multiple extra periods;

* 37 (53.6%) were decided by one goal, including 15 of the 22 games in the second round (68.2%); and

* 42 (60.9%) have been decided by one goal or by two goals following an empty-net goal.

LOOSE PUCKS

The Capitals played a Game 7 for the fifth consecutive playoff series and for the ninth time in their past 11 series since 2008. Their nine such games in that span are tied with the Bruins for the most in the NHL. . . . Alex Ovechkin scored his fifth goal of the 2015 playoffs to finish the postseason with nine points (5-4—9) in 14 games, tying Joel Ward (3-6—9) for the team scoring lead. Ovechkin has 3-3—6 in nine career Game 7s. . . . Rangers coach Alain Vigneault improved to 5-1 in career Game 7s. . . . Washington goaltender Braden Holtby made 37 saves, including a breakaway stop on Rick Nash in the first period, but fell to 2-3 in career Game 7s. . . . Holtby allowed two goals or fewer goals in 10 of 14 games in the 2015 playoffs, including five times against the Rangers. He finished his third career postseason with a 6-7 record, 1.71 goals-against average, .944 save percentage and one shutout (13 GP). . . . Rangers forward Martin St. Louis, who will face his former club in the Eastern Conference Final, played in his 100th career postseason game. . . . J.T. Miller, Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi and Keith Yandle each had an assist for the Rangers. . . . Marcus Johansson and Nicklas Backstrom had the assists on Ovechkin's goal, snapping eight and five-game point droughts, respectively.