Mike Ribeiro scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give Washington the series lead. (MCT/Getty Images)

By Sarah Kwak

For the fourth-straight game in this series, one goal separated the two teams. The tight contests have made for fast-paced, tense hockey, never more so than on Friday night in Game 5. All tied after regulation, the overtime period offered a continuous string of gasps. The crowd collectively held its breath as Washington and New York traded scoring chances, but when Capitals center Mike Ribeiro scored 9:24 into overtime, the release was monumental. He was standing on the doorstep just to the right of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist’s cage when a point shot that was blocked in front rebounded right in front of him. Ribeiro easily swept it in, giving Washington the 3-2 series lead and setting off an eruption from the crowd and the Capitals’ bench that nearly blew the roof off of the Verizon Center.

Some thoughts and observations from the Capitals’ 2-1 OT win:

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