Eastern Conference Quarterfinal 1Washington Capitals VS. 8New York Rangers

Game 1: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. In net: Henrik Lundqvist for New York and Michal Neuvirth for Washington. Matt Gilroy opened the scoring in the third period for the Rangers, with assists from Wojtek Wolski and Brandon Prust. Washington tied it with Alex Ovechkin, courtesy of Alexander Semin and Mike Green. The tie lasted into overtime, where Semin was the hero for the Capitals, with Jason Arnott providing the help. Semin, Ovechkin, and Gilroy were the three stars.

Game 2: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. In net: Henrik Lundqvist for New York and Michal Neuvirth for Washington. Washington opened with Jason Chimera in the second period, with assists by Marcus Johansson and Brooks Laich. Jason Arnott added on as well for the Capitals, with a power play goal powered by Mike Green and Alex Ovechkin, to make it 2-0. This was a final, with Neuvirth (22 save shutout), Chimera, and Arnott taking the three stars. Washington leads the series 2-0.

Game 3: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In net: Michal Neuvirth for Washington and Henrik Lundqvist for New York. Erik Christensen opened the scoring for New York with a second period power play goal via Wojtek Wolski and Bryan McCabe. Washington replied with Alex Ovechkin potting his second of the postseason, courtesy of Jason Arnott and Mike Green. The Rangers retook the lead in the third period as Vinny Prospal introduced puck to twine, with help coming from Marc Staal and Brandon Dubinsky. The Capitals retied it with Mike Knuble on the power play, thanks to Nicklas Backstrom and Ovechkin. New York struck late with Dubinsky's goal, an unassisted goal, making the final 3-2 Rangers. The three stars went to Lundqvist (23 for 25 saves), Dubinsky, and Prospal.

Game 4: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In net: Michal Neuvirth for Washington and Henrik Lundqvist for New York. New York opened the scoring in the second period on an Artem Anisimov goal, courtesy of Chris Drury and Mike Sauer. The Rangers extended their lead on a Marian Gaborik goal, coming off of Ruslan Fedotenko and Brandon Dubinsky. Seven seconds later, New York tallied again as Dubinsky potted his second of the playoffs with the help of Fedotenko. Washington got on the board in the third period with Alexander Semin's second of the postseason, an unassisted goal. The Capitals tied it with a pair of Marcus Johansson goals, assisted by Brooks Laich and Mike Green the first time and John Carlson and Karl Alzner later on. This tie lasted throughout the end of regulation and the whole first overtime until the second extra frame, where Washington won the game 4-3 with an unassisted Jason Chimera goal, although give Gaborik the credit for shooting it right to Chimera. Johansson, Fedotenko, and Chimera took the three stars. Washington gained a 3-1 series lead.

Game 5: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. In net: Henrik Lundqvist for New York and Michal Neuvirth for Washington. Washington led off the scoring with a Mike Green goal, courtesy of Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich on the power play. Ovechkin tallied for the Capitals in the second period, his third of the postseason produced by Scott Hannan and Laich. Washington extended the lead again in the third period with Alexander Semin netting his third of the playoffs, with help from Marcus Johansson and Marco Sturm. Wojtek Wolski allowed New York to avoid being shut out by notching a goal in the last minute of regulation, assisted by Bryan McCabe and Sean Avery. Neuvirth (26 for 27 saves), Ovechkin, and Laich were the three stars. The win gave Washington a 4-1 series victory, eliminating the Rangers from the playoffs.