Rangers 4, Capitals 3: Derek Stepan scored to snap a tie with 6:25 remaining in the third period as host New York won Game 3 to trim its deficit to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round series.

Derick Brassard collected a goal and two assists, Brian Boyle had one of each and Arron Asham also scored. Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 28 shots for the sixth-seeded Rangers, who will look to even the series when the teams reconvene at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

Defenseman Mike Green scored for the second straight contest and Jay Beagle and Nicklas Backstrom also tallied. Braden Holtby finished with 26 saves for the third-seeded Capitals.

With the game tied at 3-3, Rick Nash gained possession of the puck in the right corner and wired a centering feed from along the goal line. Stepan gained a step on Backstrom and extended his stick to deflect the puck past Holtby for his first goal of the series.

Asham converted Brassard's centering feed from the doorstep to give New York a 3-2 lead at 2:53 of the third period. Washington answered nearly 4 1/2 minutes later after Matt Hendricks won the faceoff and defenseman Jack Hillen's wrist shot deflected off Beagle's leg and past Lundqvist.

GAME NOTEBOOK: New York D Marc Staal returned to action for the first time since suffering a horrific eye injury against Philadelphia on March 5. Staal, who replaced D Steve Eminger in the lineup, did not register a shot on goal in 17:17 of ice time. ... After setting up Boyle, Brassard snapped a 1-1 tie at 1:23 of the second period by settling a brilliant centering feed from RW Mats Zuccarello before beating Holtby inside the left post. ... Washington D John Erskine missed the final 4:18 of the first period after absorbing a hit from captain Ryan Callahan. He returned after the start of the second period.