Jason Chimera celebrates after scoring his second-period goal last night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. (Photo by Clydeorama)

Capitals 2, Rangers 1: Got plans for Saturday night? The Capitals do now. With their backs to the edge of an abyss for what seems like the dozenth time this postseason, the Capitals held off the Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to avoid elimination and return the series to New York for a deciding seventh game. And there was little ambiguity about Washington’s performance last night at the Verizon Center. Chalk it up to venting frustration over that heartbreaking collapse Monday night in Game 5 if you must, but from the get-go, the Capitals dominated last night’s matchup.

An early penalty on New York defenseman Anton Stralman gave way to a power-play goal by Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals padded their lead midway through the second period with a score by Jason Chimera. Meanwhile, the Rangers looked adrift on the ice, despite the fact that they rifled off more shots on goal over the course of the game. No matter, though. Braden Holtby was back in fine form, not letting anything by until a shot by Marian Gaborik very late in the third period.

“Everyone, I think, counted us out. This is the way we are,” Jason Chimera told the Post after the game. “We don’t really crack.”

So it’s back to New York for Game 7.

Pirates 4, Nationals 2: We’re blaming this one on bad karma. A day after the Nationals’ social media people lavished praise on their opponent’s stadium and city, the team couldn’t get things sparked last night in Pittsburgh, racking up 11 strikeouts and leaving too many runners on base over the course of the game. Danny Espinosa whiffed two more times to add to his National League-leading total of 39. And even when it appeared Washington was on the cusp of breaking the current losing streak, the Nationals found a way to duff it. Pittsburgh closer Joel Hanrahan was shaky to open the ninth inning. After hitting Steve Lombardozzi with a pitch, Hanrahan gave up a one-out double to Ian Desmond to put runners on second and third with two dynamic hitters coming to the plate. Bryce Harper popped out on a short fly ball to left field. It was then up to Ryan Zimmerman. Another strikeout and the end of the game. Most remarkably, nearly all of this happened against a Pittsburgh bullpen that pitched eight innings after starter Eric Bedard left the game after one inning due to back spasms.