New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Henrik Lundqvist made 38 saves to lead the New York Rangers over the Washington Capitals, 2-1, in Game 4 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at Madison Square Garden.

"I think it's very important not to find an excuse not to play as good as you can. That was important for the whole team," Lundqvist said of his own performance after allowing four goals in Game 3. "Being patient is number one for me or any goalie, when you're fighting pucks it makes it tougher. When you win it's a great feeling."

Paul Mara and Chris Drury tallied for the Rangers, who lead this set 3-1 and get their first chance to end this best-of-seven matchup in Washington on Friday.

Alex Ovechkin notched the lone goal for the Capitals, who find themselves facing a three-games-to-one deficit for the second consecutive season.

Washington was able to extend that series, also an Eastern quarterfinal against the Philadelphia Flyers, to a seventh game before falling in overtime.

"It's a different team, different year, different circumstances," said Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau of his players. "We're certainly going to try. They aren't going to wait until Game 6 to get it done. Both teams are going to come out hard and give it their best."

One contest removed from posting his first career shutout, Simeon Varlamov took the loss despite allowing two goals on 21 shots.

Ovechkin's blistering wrister, his first goal of the series, put the Caps on the board at 2:13 of the third period.

Rangers agitator Sean Avery then gave Washington a gift power play with 9:39 left in regulation after punching Capitals defenseman Milan Jurcina in the face. Ovechkin rang a slap shot off the right post early on and it proved to be a positive omen as the Rangers held for the remainder of the advantage.

Ovechkin unloaded another heavy shot from the left wing with 5:15 remaining, but Lundqvist made the sweeping glove save while falling backwards.

Avery was tagged again for a high stick with 3:06 to play, but the Capitals again came up empty.

"He gave us a chance," Boudreau said of Avery's tactics. "It's a swing with his arm and a blatant high stick. They were both good calls."

Varlamov was called to the bench for an extra attacker with a minute to go and the Blueshirts survived after several close calls which barely missed the net.

"We were hoping to check them, and check them to create some offense," admitted Rangers head coach John Tortorella. "You don't stop them, you try and contain them the best you can. We have a very good goalie, and he's going to have to be very good for the remainder of the series. We knew this going in."

Seconds after Varlamov denied Nikolai Zherdev with a pad stop at the left post, the Rangers took a 1-0 lead.

Brandon Dubinsky won a left-circle draw back to Mara, who threaded a shot through traffic which deflected off the stick of Caps defenseman John Erskine and past the young Russian with just over six minutes left in the first period.

Drury connected 2:23 into the second period for a 2-0 New York advantage, following up his own rebound which Varlamov coughed up with his glove, and lifting it home from along the goal line.

The Capitals poured on the pressure thereafter, peppering Lundqvist with shot after shot, but the Swedish backstop was equal every time. He stopped Alexander Semin and Ovechkin twice during back-to-back Washington power plays, then denied Semin on a wraparound with under three minutes remaining.

One more key save came in the final minute, one on Viktor Kozlov from 15 feet, completing his 19-save effort for the middle 20 minutes.

"I was not frustrated, but he's a great goalie," said Ovechkin of Lundqvist. "He made good saves. We almost had too many chances. He didn't allow too many rebounds. We played with energy, we played with passion, but it just wasn't good enough."

Game Notes

The Rangers have not lost a series in which they took three of the first four games in franchise history...Lundqvist improved to 14-13 all-time in playoff contests...The Capitals have only rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to win on one occasion, the 1988 Patrick Division semifinals against the Flyers...Avery has racked up six minor penalties and a misconduct in the last two games alone.