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WASHINGTON -- Back a few seasons ago, when Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green were helping the Washington Capitals finally start to emerge from years of rebuilding with a go-go, attacking style, the team promoted its high-scoring core group with the slogan "Young Guns. Irving Fryar Jersey ." These days, the Capitals are succeeding in the playoffs with a more conservative, defensive-minded style -- and it still never hurts when the best of the best put the puck in the net. Defenceman Greens slap shot on a power play with 5:48 left in regulation was the go-ahead goal, and Ovechkin and Backstrom scored Saturday, too, lifting the Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the top-seeded New York Rangers that tied their Eastern Conference semifinal series at two games apiece. When the bygone marketing tag was mentioned in the loud Capitals locker room afterward, the 26-year-old Green repeated the reporters words, saying with a wry smirk: "Young Guns? Not so young anymore. But we needed to step up." According to STATS LLC, it was the 13th time in their Capitals careers -- all were first-round draft picks -- that Ovechkin, Backstrom and Green scored in the same game, but first in any post-season. Washingtons record in those games? Not surprisingly, 13-0. That trio last tallied together on Oct. 30, 2010, STATS said. "People have been talking about (how) we need to step up," said Backstrom, who missed 40 games in the regular season with a concussion and hadnt scored since Game 2 of the opening round against Boston. "If you work hard, good things happen to you, somebody told me." Ovechkin made it 1-0 about 12 1/2 minutes into the game with a 40-foot slap shot after Rangers rookie Chris Kreider accidentally sent the puck to the two-time NHL MVPs stick. In the second period, Ovechkins skates left the ice as he delivered a high hit to defenceman Dan Girardi, a play that resulted in a charging penalty against the Russian wing and could draw attention from the league office. "My heads kind of there," Girardi said, "and he hits it." Ovechkin, treated for a bloody upper lip in the third period, said he was trying to protect himself and thought he caught Girardi in the shoulder, not the head. Capitals coach Dale Hunter offered this analysis: "It was incidental contact, where both of them were looking down and they hit each other." Rangers coach John Tortorellas take? Who knows? He declined to answer a general question about the officiating and walked out of his news conference after about 30 seconds. On the go-ahead goal, Rangers captain Ryan Callahan got knocked down along the boards and lost the puck, which went to Capitals defenceman Dennis Wideman. He slid the puck over to a wide-open Green, who slammed into the glass after releasing his shot from the right circle. "I didnt see the puck," Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. "I was pretty much just guessing where it was going." It allowed the No. 7-seeded Capitals to make a much-needed recovery from what could have been a demoralizing defeat: The Rangers won Game 3 in triple overtime. "If we lost this one, wed be down 3-1, going back there (to New York). So the guys knew what was at stake," Hunter said, "and they came out with a big first (period), a big push. We generated a lot of offence." Well, relatively speaking. The Rangers host Game 5 on Monday night, with Game 6 at Washington on Wednesday. Artem Anisimov had a goal and an assist for the Rangers. New Yorks other goal came from Marian Gaborik, who scored the Game 3 winner after nearly 115 minutes. The teams had two days off to rest and recuperate from that marathon, which began Wednesday night and finished after midnight. The Rangers 2-1 victory in that game might have given them control of the series. But anyone counting out the Capitals must have forgotten that they havent lost two games in a row since March 22-23. Or that they also trailed 2-1 in the first round, before eliminating the reigning NHL champion Bruins in seven games. Then theres this: The Capitals are 3-0 following OT losses this post-season. Theyre also growing quite accustomed to playing tight ones: 10 of their 11 playoff games have been decided by one goal, and only once has Washington scored as many as four. Its quite a long way from when they were winning playoff games by scores of 4-0 or 5-3 -- and, incidentally, never making it beyond the second round. "Were a grinding team now. Our identity has kind of flipped. We try not to give up much defensively, keep pucks out of the middle and along the boards, and weve been successful with that," forward Brooks Laich said. "Talking to friends and family, theyre sitting at home, biting their nails and pulling their hair out. Theyre just dying for a 4-0 or 5-0 win. But I keep telling them those days are gone a little bit." Indeed, the Capitals entered Saturday second in the post-season in blocked shots, behind only the Rangers, and the hosts compiled a 26-7 edge in that stat. "The guys are committed," said Hunter, who replaced the fired Bruce Boudreau in November. The beneficiary was Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, who only needed to make 18 saves and didnt need to turn away a shot until nearly 5 1/2 minutes into the game. By then, Washington had taken seven shots. At the end of the first period, the Capitals had a 14-3 edge in shots. The final tally was 26-20 in Washingtons favour. The biggest, of course, came off the stick of Green, who missed 50 games this season because of a right ankle injury, then abdominal surgery. "Before he was injured a lot," Backstrom noted, "we used to see that all the time." NOTES: The Capitals are 6-1 this post-season when scoring first. ... Ovechkins goal was his 29th in the NHL playoffs, moving him one away from Peter Bondras team record. Dont a Hightower Jersey . Tournament organizers approved Tennis South Africas request for the switch and says Canada will stage the matchup from Sept. 14-16. The venue hasnt been decided. Stevan Ridley Youth Jersey . -- Saints interim coach Joe Vitt wont reveal the quarterback rotation against Arizona for the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday in Canton, Ohio, saying only that it will be similar to other preseason openers. http://www.officialnewenglandpatriotsgear.com/kyle-arrington-jersey-1 . The Jays halted the five-game skid by topping the New York Yankees, 10-7, on Sunday in the finale of a three-game set. Rajai Davis drove in five runs and made a superb defensive play, as Toronto avoided the sweep. Nate Solder Womens Jersey . Marie Greyhounds 7-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League play. The 19-year-old centre has three goals and eight points in his last two outings and 14 goals and 32 points on the season, which leads his club in scoring. Tom Brady Jersey . All sorts of ambitions came crashing down in a handful of Top 25 upsets on Saturday, none more costly than No.NEWPORT, R.I. -- John Isner feels comfortable being back in the United States. Hes showing it by dominating his opponents. Top seed and defending champ Isner advanced to the final at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships by beating fellow American Ryan Harrison 7-6 (4), 6-3 on Saturday afternoon. Isner, ranked 11th, will face Australias Lleyton Hewitt in the title match Sunday. Hewitt, a former world No. 1, defeated American Rajeev Ram 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The matches were held after Jennifer Capriati and four others were enshrined into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Isner is looking to become the first repeat champion on Newports grass courts since Frances Fabrice Santoro in 2008. Joining Capriati in a 90-minute on-court ceremony were recently retired player Gustavo Kuerten, master player Manuel Orantes, tennis industry executive Mike Davies and wheelchair champion Randy Snow, who was honoured posthumously. Isner took control by winning the first set tiebreak, improving his record to an ATP-best mark of 24-10 in tiebreaks this year. Similar to last year, hes used his overpowering serve to take charge in matches. So far this week, hes held serve in 46 of 47 chances. "Its feeling very similar actually, eerily similar," he said. "Last year I wasnt playing well and I came here and I desperately needed wins and confidence. This year Im ranked a lot higher (than last year) but I didnt play well in Europe -- simple as that." He realizes his play improves with his return to America. "Im always most comfortable in the States. Thats something I need to work on. I really want to do well here," said Isner, looking for his fourth ATP tour title. "Ive been focused since the first day I practiced." He wrapped up the match with a forehhand winner down the line. Wes Welker Womens Jersey. Hewitt, coming off five surgeries in four years, entered the week ranked 233rd and was looking to accumulate matches in his comeback bid before he represents Australia for the London Olympics. "Its about getting wins and putting yourself in position," said Hewitt, looking for his 29th career ATP title. "I think more than anything its about self-belief and self-confidence. "You doubt yourself a little bit more when youre coming back from surgery. You cant just click your fingers and start moving and playing the way you want to play. Thats sometimes frustrating." Hewitt, a wild card, broke in the third game of the final set to go up 2-1 when he hit a well-placed backhand cross on Rams second serve. He then held in the fourth game, before breaking again in the fifth, and holding in the sixth to take a commanding lead. On the final point, Ram hit a forehand service return into the net, closing the match in 2 hours, 20 minutes. Ram said it was special to face a two-time Grand Slam champion. "I hope Im still playing when he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame because thats going to happen someday," Ram said. Hewitt captured the 2001 U.S. Open and 2002 Wimbledon. Hewitt had trailed 4-1 in the opening set before winning the final five games. Tied 4-all and holding a break advantage in the ninth game, he hit a perfectly placed backhand down the line to go up 5-4. He then closed out the set at love. In the second set, Ram opened a 5-2 lead. After Hewitt held serve, Ram faulted on seven of eight serves in the ninth game, including the final two points to see his lead sliced to 5-4. "I had a really tough day serving," Ram said. "That was a big part of the problem." ' ' '