WASHINGTON — It makes perfect sense that the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals are heading to a Game 7.

In many ways, these teams are mirror images of each other.

Neither scores much. Neither allows opponents to, either. They play every game close.

And no matter how seemingly devastating a defeat, in overtime or otherwise, the Capitals — from two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin to playoff rookie goalie Braden Holtby — simply do not allow setbacks to bother them. They regroup, get back out there and follow every loss with a victory.

Ovechkin rebounded from a rare zero-shot performance by scoring after 88 seconds Wednesday night, Holtby made 30 saves, and the Capitals recovered the way they always seem to, beating the top-seeded Rangers 2-1 to tie the Eastern Conference semifinal series at three games apiece.

“We’re resilient,” Washington defenseman Karl Alzner said. “We have that thick skin. We know when to battle back when we need to and have to.”

The teams will meet in New York on Saturday night to determine who will face the New Jersey Devils in the conference finals. Washington hasn’t been that far since 1998; the Rangers since 1997.