The Rangers’ Chris Kreider shoots the puck past goalie Braden Holtby for a goal as teammate Mike Green looks on during the third period of Game 1 in the second round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs on Saturday in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

When Jason Chimera knocked a beautiful cross-ice pass from Brooks Laich into the back of the New York Rangers’ net in the closing moments of the second period during Saturday night’s game, it brought new energy to a game that seemed to lack spark from either team. That energy all but disappeared in the third period—for the Caps, at least—as the Rangers scored two more goals and emerged victorious in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

So what happened? According to team owner Ted Leonsis, the team just didn’t seem particularly engaged in the game, he wrote yesterday on his blog:

I also thought we looked just a little flat mentally and emotionally. It was almost like we had survived such a tough series against Boston. We had decompressed in a few off days and now we were trying to amp back up. I also thought the game was too fast moving. There weren’t a lot of shots on goal and the game’s flow was uneven and pfftt. It was over—and fast.

The Caps will have a chance to liven up a little and even up the series tonight at 7:30 p.m.