be honest, I don't know. I thought there were some calls that could have gone either way, and obviously we take some that kill our momentum. All in all, it is not solely because of that. We just didn't get up to our standards."Added Hitchcock: "The biggest thing looking back at this series is the personal discipline when it gets really amped up. I think being around a while, you have to learn that to move forward. You have to experience it, so you know what it feels like so it doesn't happen again. If you look these Games 1, 2 and 4, we had a lot of penalties that took us off the power play or allowed them to keep momentum."
NEW YORK -- Nicklas Backstrom is back to being arguably the most important forward on the Washington Capitals. For proof, just watch the replay of his reverse shoulder hit on Artem Anisimov that led to his goal in Game 4 against the Rangers this past Saturday.Players that are coming off a 40-game absence due to a concussion might not normally make a play like that; one with such brute force. However,Ryan Callahan Authentic Dark Blue Jersey, Backstrom told NHL.com Monday that he has gotten rid of the frustration and insecurity that he played with upon his return late in the regular season and even in the first-round series against Boston to allow for the physicality and confidence to return in the Eastern Conference Semifinals."I had to get back to playing the normal way that I want to play, otherwise it's just going to be worse, I think," Backstrom said. "It's hard,Brandon Dubinsky Blue Jersey, especially when you know you have it in the back of your head, but you've got to let it go. More and more,Marian Hossa Jersey, yeah (I have let it go). I don't think about it as much as I did the first couple of games. Now it's just about doing what I can for the team."RANGERS VS. CAPITALSRangers, Caps know razor-thin marginBy Dave Lozo - NHL.com Staff WriterThe margin for error is so thin between the Rangers and Capitals that it cannot be seen with the naked eye. READ MORE › Rangers look to solve Caps' shot blockers Tortorella holds scrum with media Sunday Follow the Rangers-Capitals series blog MORE RANGERS-CAPITALS SERIES STORIES ›Backstrom's physicality, complete with sturdiness on his skates against Anisimov,Patrick Kane Black Authentic Jersey, was a display of the type of play he would make before Rene Bourque's elbow connected with his head on Jan. 3. He doesn't look like the strongest player on the ice, but he can play that part."Nicky is a guy who doesn't shy away from those areas of the game," Capitals forward Brooks Laich said. "He's very good in the corners. He's always in there picking pucks. And I think he surprises a lot of guys, as he did Anisimov with how sturdy he is on his skates. It's not very often you see guys get the best of him."Added coach Dale Hunter: "He's actually been playing pretty well throughout the playoffs here for a guy that only played a few games after missing 40. It takes time for shape and timing, but the one thing is he can play both ends of the ice. He knows the game; he's a smart player, so he adjusted a