They’ve seen this movie before. Down 3-1 in the series, the Capitals rush back to tie the series at three and force a Game 7 at the Verizon Center. Last season the movie didn’t end too well, but this season Washington decided to try a different approach, and it ended with a sequel.

The Capitals buckled down after allowing an early first period goal by the Rangers to knock them off and send them home packing by a score of 2-1. It was the kind of win that showed just how good this Capitals team can be, and it was also the kind of series win that showed what the future may have in star for a young netminder in Simeon Varlamov.

The Rangers’ Nik Antropov scored five minutes into the game, but this didn’t worry the Capitals for very long. Ten minutes later Alexander Semin scored to tie up the game. For the rest of the first period, all of the second period, and the first 15 minutes of the third, thoughts were of an overtime game, perhaps with a similar result to last year’s 3-2 Game 7 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers.

But Sergei Fedorov knew it wasn’t meant to be and wanted to write a new chapter. Over ten years after he ruined the Capitals’ playoff dreams with the Red Wings, he gave them a boost with about five minutes left to go.

“I didn’t think too much about it,” Fedorov said. “The D[efense] gave me some room, when I stopped so I choose to shoot.”

After Fedorov addressed the media, it was time for coach Bruce Boudreau. A member of the media informed everyone that the Carolina Hurricanes had scored late twice to knock off the New Jersey Devils.

This meant the Capitals were primed for a second-round matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. “To me, it’s great. I think it means more to the organization and to the city of Washington,” Boudreau said.

Game 1 will take place Saturday in Washington. Varlamov must continue his hot play and the offense must continue to score goals. Boudreau says he refuses to talk to the young netminder who seems to have a lot of poise.

“I still haven’t talked to him since game one,” Boudreau said. “I don’t want to screw him up, so I am leaving him alone.”