Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Matt Bradley scored twice in the first period and Simeon Varlamov posted 20 saves as the Washington Capitals staved off elimination in the playoffs with a 4-0 win over the New York Rangers at Verizon Center.

Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin each had a goal for the Caps, who still trail the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, 3-2.

"We didn't try to think about it too much," said Ovechkin about facing elimination. "We came out with a plan and now we have to go up there and win again to keep our season alive. We can't make any mistakes right now."

It was the second shutout of the series for Varlamov, who has been in between the pipes for the past four games after Jose Theodore was benched following Game 1.

The Capitals have rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to win on one occasion, the 1988 Patrick Division semifinals against the Flyers.

Henrik Lundqvist was pulled after the second period as he was charged with four goals on 14 shots for the Rangers, who have never lost a series after being up 3-1.

Game 6 will take place Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

The Caps took the lead just 4:58 into the game while skating shorthanded. While holding the puck in the Washington end, the puck went back to the left point, but the Ranger player was unable to keep it in. Bradley was then able to tip the puck past a defender, picked it up again down low and snapped a backhander into the left corner of the net.

Washington made it a 2-0 game at the 12:07 mark of the first as Bradley threw a shot on net from a sharp angle that somehow got between the pads of Lundqvist.

New York managed just three shots on net in the first period, all of which Varlamov turned aside.

"I know I have to play better if we're going to win the series," said Lundqvist. "It starts with me and it's tough when we get a start like that in the first period."

The Capitals made it a 3-0 game at the 4:57 mark of the second as a right circle faceoff win went right back to Semin, who snapped a quick shot past Lundqvist.

Ovechkin then gave his team a four-goal lead on a beautiful individual effort. Skating down the left wing on a 2-on-2 break, Ovechkin cut to the middle, turned Derek Morris inside-out, kicked the puck back to his stick and backhanded it past Lundqvist for his second goal of the playoffs with 29 seconds left in the second period.

New York was able to get a bit more offense in the second period as the team threw seven shots on net, but Varlamov was up to the challenge and stopped everything thrown his way.

The third period passed quickly and without score as the Washington defense did a good job of keeping the Rangers from getting any persistent pressure.

Game Notes

New York forward Sean Avery was a healthy scratch. In four games this series, he is minus-one with 24 penalty minutes...Stephen Valiquette stopped all seven shots he faced in relief of Lundqvist in the third period...Neither team scored on the power play with New York having four chances and Washington seven.