NHL: New York Rangers 4, Washington 3

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NEW YORK, May 8 (UPI) -- A power-play goal from Dan Girardi in the first minute of the third period put New York in front Wednesday and the Rangers went on to nip Washington 4-3.

New York thus evened the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at 2-2, every game having been won by the home team. Washington will host Game 5 on Friday.

The teams battled to a 2-2 tie through two periods, Washington coming back from a two-goal deficit with a pair of scores during the latter stages of the middle stanza.

Girardi then scored 59 seconds into the third and Derek Stepan gave New York a two-goal lead 5 minutes later.

Karl Alzner brought Washington back within one with 12:29 to play in regulation and the Capitals put on an assault the rest of the way without being able to get another shot past Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist stopped 27-of-30 shots while Braden Holtby made 30 saves for the Capitals.

Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin gave New York its early lead and Washington came back on goals from Mathieu Perreault and Troy Brouwer.