New York Rangers, Without Sean Avery, Rocked by Washington Capitals 4-0

The New York Rangers, playing a sloppy game without Sean Avery, were rocked 4-0 by the Washington Capitals in game five in Washington.

The Capitals were down three games to one and facing elimination but closed the gap with an easy victory over the Rangers. Simeon Varlamov got his second shut out in the series, stopping 20 shots.

John Tortorella made game five in the first round playoff series between the Rangers and the Capitals into a Sean Avery story, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, and it was a story with a sad beginning, middle, and end.

With a win, the Rangers would have won the best-of-seven series, as they led three to one. The Capitals scored early in the game, later in the first period, at the start of the second period, and at the end of the second.

The Rangers coach scratched Avery from the game against the Capitals after he took two penalties in the final 10 minutes of his team's 2-1 game four victory at the Garden on Wednesday. The Caps did not score on either penalty.

"The benching represents a stunning rebuke of Avery," Brooks claimed, adding that Avery played a major role in each of the Rangers' first-round playoff series victories the prior two seasons, in 2007 against the Thrashers and last year against the Devils, and was a very effective player since returning to New York on March 3rd.

"Avery also had been a significant factor in the Rangers' game one victory in this series. He played well in the game two triumph, not particularly well in the game three defeat, and had been a positive force through the first 50 minutes Wednesday," Brooks reported.

Tortorella declined to answer repeated questions regarding Avery's status following the morning skate, saying he did not want to make it a Sean Avery Story.

Aaron Voros dressed and Lauri Korpikoski took Avery's place on the first line.
Rangers GM Glen Sather made it clear the NHL did not suspend Avery, according to the New York Times.

Scott Gomez took a slashing penalty at the 1:16 mark of the first period that was not what you would call a good penalty. He was not benched when he got out of the penalty box.

The Capitals scored a short-handed goal on their first shot of the game.
Minutes later, the Rangers took another penalty. They got caught with too many men on the ice.

The Capitals scored the second goal shortly after to take a 2-0 first period lead. Matt Bradley scored the first two goals for Washington.

Mike Green also got a goal but it was reviewed and waived off at it was batted in with a high stick.

The Rangers stellar goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, did not look good on the second goal.
Avery has been called many things, including the Rangers' lucky rabbit's foot, and it looked like they had no luck in game five without him in the lineup.

The Rangers managed three shots against the Caps in the first period.
Alexander Semin scored five minutes into an otherwise dull second period to give the Washington Capitals a 3-0 lead.

The Capitals are out shooting the Rangers, as usual, and also out-hitting them, 20 to 16, half way through the second period. The Rangers have six shots on net.

Alexander Ovechkin scored a highlight reel goal to make it 4-0 at the end of the second period.

Stephen Valiquette replaced Henrik Lundqvist at the start of the third period. The Capitals scored four goals on 14 shots on the Rangers.

Valiquette played a dozen games for the Rangers during the regular season. Game five was his first playoff appearance.

The Capitals had the puck on the Rangers goal line four and a half minutes into the third period and a fight erupted with Brandon Dubinsky refusing to fight with Donald Brashear.

Somebody in the stands of the Washington Capital's arena threw something into the Rangers bench with 13:27 left in the game and was ejected. It did not hit Tortorella.

"See what happens when Sean Avery doesn’t play?" Bob Birge said in The Nation Sports Review. "John Tortorella benched Avery for Friday’s game against the Capitals and the Rangers responded by playing their worst period of the series."

Birge said the Rangers allowed a shorthanded goal following a giveaway by Chris Drury during another wretched power play and Henrik Lundqvist let in a soft goal for a 2-0 Capitals lead, the Rangers looked flat and sloppy.

"Tortorella could have a major controversy on his hands regarding Avery’s status," he concluded. "We don’t like the move to bench Avery. We don’t like it one little bit, and it could come back to bite Tortorella in the butt."

Avery is expected to be back for game six in New York on Sunday.

Game seven of the series would take place on Tuesday at 7 pm EST in Washington.