Alain Vigneault issued the challenge, and, boy, did his Rangers respond.
The Blueshirts answered their coach’s wishes and played a far more assertive and aggressive game on Saturday afternoon at the Garden, taking a 3-2 win over the Capitals in Game 3 of their second-round series, tying the best-of-seven contest 1-1 as the scene shifts to Washington for Game 3 on Monday night.
“You’re going to have to expect their absolute best,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said before the game. “The desperation factor, we’re going to have to match it.”
The Rangers were sloppy in Game 1 on Thursday night, and were undone when Washington forward Joel Ward scored a shocking goal from in front with 1.