NHL Update and Notes

An overtime goal by Derek Stepan lifted the New York Rangers to a (2-1) victory vs the Washington Capitals in game seven and into their third Eastern Conference Final series in four seasons.

In this their 40th completed season (1975-2015, with no season in 2005) the Capitals suffered another heartbreaking loss, a fifth time they have dissipated a three games to one series lead.

The Rangers now face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference final, beginning Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Rangers home arena, Madison Square Garden.

The last time the Lightning made the Eastern Conference Final they lost to the Boston Bruins, a team their colorful radio game analyst Phil Esposito helped win two Stanley Cups and make three Stanley Cup Final series.

“Espo” also played on the 1979 New York Rangers, who made the Stanley Cup finals.

Also in the upcoming Lightning vs Rangers series, Martin St. Louis, now with the Rangers, will be playing against a Lightning franchise he helped win the Stanley Cup in 2004.