switching dugouts and looking at my tea

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(Sports Network) - The top-seeded New York Rangers will try to regain the lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals, as they host the Washington Capitals in tonights Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. J.J. Watt Youth Jersey . The Rangers and seventh-seeded Capitals have split the first four battles of this best-of-seven series with New York taking Games 1 and 3 and Washington claiming the even-numbered tilts. Washington evened the series at 2-2 on Saturday afternoon, taking Game 4 by a 3-2 score. Capitals defenseman Mike Green scored a power-play goal with 5:48 remaining in the third period to account for the difference. The Caps, who defeated Boston in seven games in the opening round, still havent lost consecutive games in this postseason. Washington last dropped two games in a row from March 22-23. Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom also scored for Washington in Game 4, while Braden Holtby stopped 18 shots for the victory. Ovechkin recorded his 29th career playoff goal, placing him one behind Peter Bondra for first all- time in Capitals history. "We needed to step up. It was important that we got a win in our building," Green said. Artem Anisimov registered a goal and an assist for the top-seeded Rangers, while Henrik Lundqvist made 23 saves in the loss. Marian Gaborik, who recorded the Game 3 winner in triple overtime, scored the other goal for New York. "Everything is just so tight," said Rangers captain Ryan Callahan. "You never know which play is going to win the game for you. Its tight defensively, guys are blocking shots, but its the playoffs and you have to control your emotions and keep moving forward and try to get that equalizer. But we didnt get that today." The Rangers are 3-3 on home ice in the playoffs after going 27-12-2 at the Garden in the regular season. Washington had a poor 16-21-4 road record during the 2011-12 campaign, but is 4-2 as the guest in the postseason. Game 6 of this series is scheduled for Wednesday in Washington. The Capitals are in the second round for the third time in four seasons, but Washington hasnt made it to the conference finals since 1998, when it earned the franchises only trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. New York is the top seed in the East for the first time since it won its last Stanley Cup title in 1994. The Rangers are aiming for their first conference finals appearance since 1997. This marks the seventh playoff series between the Rangers and Capitals and Washington has taken four of those six matchups. The Capitals beat New York in the conference quarterfinals in both 2009 and 2011, winning last years series in just five games. The last time the Rangers defeated Washington was in the 1994 conference semifinals. Joe Greene Jersey . Sundays 4-3 loss to Baltimore was Clevelands fourth straight and dropped the Indians below the . Kenny Britt Jersey . -- Drew Doughty began this season holding out for a $56 million contract from the Los Angeles Kings, demanding and getting an enormous sum for a kid with more potential than accomplishment. Dustin Keller Jersey . -- The Grizzlies have signed forward Dante Cunningham after the Charlotte Bobcats declined to match Memphis offer to the restricted free agent. Maurkice Pouncey Womens Jersey . "Theres no secret with Pekka anymore," he said, somewhat slyly. "We feel hes the top goaltender in the league because we see him on a nightly basis. Fred Jackson Jersey . According to the Columbus Dispatch, as many as seven teams have had significant discussions with the club in the last 10 days about acquiring Nash. CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Reds are still trying to figure out how to cope with the loss of first baseman Joey Votto, who had surgery Tuesday for torn cartilage in his left knee and will be sidelined for three to four weeks. Their initial move was to replace him with a pitcher, giving themselves a backup plan in case Johnny Cuetos blister bothered him during his start Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Beyond that, the NL Central leaders arent sure how theyll try to replace one of the leagues top hitters for up to a month. "Youre bombarding me with questions that I really dont have answers to right now," manager Dusty Baker said. "So lets take it today and then well see what we can do tomorrow. We have things in the works." Vottos injury gives the Reds more incentive to try to acquire another hitter to help them stay in contention. Theres no replacement ready in the minors. The first baseman is batting .342 and leads the National League in doubles, walks, on-base percentage and extra-base hits. Votto hurt the knee June 29 while sliding into base, but didnt think it was a significant injury and kept playing. He started at first base in the All-Star game Tuesday. When the knee began bothering him again over the weekend, he had an MRI on Monday evening that found the tear. He decided to have the surgery now rather than try to keep playing with the injury, which could get worse over time. Baker had a long talk with him about it Monday night. Baker hurt his left knee during his playing career but chose not to have surgery, which wasnt as advvanced then. Fred Jackson Jersey. The knee caused him problems the rest of his career. "I just expressed some of the things the doctor expressed to him," Baker said. "Mine was a little different issue, where I didnt get mine done. I went through a number of cortisone shots and played my last 10 years when I should have had it done right away." The Reds put Votto on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and called up right-hander Todd Redmond from Triple-A Louisville. The Reds got Redmond from Atlanta on Saturday for shortstop Paul Janish in a swap of minor leaguers. Redmond was with Triple-A Gwinnett playing against Louisville when the trade was completed. He switched clubhouses, finished the series with his new team, then went to Columbus, Ohio, for a series when the Reds called him up. "Its real exciting, especially with the last couple of days -- getting traded, switching dugouts and looking at my team on the other side," Redmond said. Cueto developed a blister on the index finger of his pitching hand while throwing in the bullpen over the All-Star break. The Reds pushed his start back two days to give it time to heal. Starter Bronson Arroyo lasted only three innings in a 5-3 loss to Arizona on Monday night, forcing Baker to use his bullpen. With questions about Cuetos blister, the Reds decided to bring up another pitcher for the night. "I was in the bullpen deep and early yesterday, so we need some innings," Baker said. "Weve got a couple of guys who have thrown two of three days or three out of four days." ' ' '