The New York Rangers home-game winning streak has officially been snapped by the defending champs, the Washington Capitals.
- New York Rangers 3 (12-10-2, 26 pts)
- Washington Capitals 5 (13-7-3, 29 pts)
- NHL, Metro, Final, Box Score
- Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
A day after coming off their first shutout loss of the season, the New York Rangers had more salt thrown into the wound at the hands of the defending Stanley Cup champions. After the Blueshirts grabbed a two-goal lead, the Washington Capitals came back to win the game 5-3, ending the Rangers home win streak at seven games.
The game started with Jesper Fast doing something you do not want to do against the Capitals, take a penalty. But the Rangers survived against the fourth best power play in the league.
Shortly after the Blueshirts killed off another penalty, they drew first blood on the scoreboard as Jimmy Vesey put home a shot on a three-on-one to make the score 1-0. The goal was Vesey’s eight of the season as he sits second on the team in goals.
Despite the two power plays, the Caps only had six shots on goal in the first period. Alexandar Georgiev, coming off his first career shutout, stopped all six shots as the Rangers took a lead into the second for only the fourth time this year.
However, once the second period started, the Capitals would get six straight shots, the Rangers would not get another shot until 9:39 into the period when Brady Skjei blasted a slap shot past Caps goalie Pheonix Copley to make it 2-0 Rangers. But the Capitals had an answer only 31 seconds later when Nic Dowd deflected a John Carlson shot to cut the deficit to one.
The Capitals tied the game at two with 3:33 left in the period when Jakub Vrana outhustled Brett Howden to put a backhander past Georgiev on a partial breakaway. Once again, the Rangers surrendered a two-goal lead.
But things would only get worse for the Rangers, with 30 seconds left in the period. The Caps took advantage of a turnover as Alex Ovechkin tipped in a Carlson pass to make the score 3-2 Capitals heading into the third period.
Connolly BURIES it up and we're back in the lead, 4-3 #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/4ibhZvwnze
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 24, 2018
Another shot from Carly finds its way deflected in front, this time by Alex Ovechkin to put the #Caps up 3-2 #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/eBI08uSrp0
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 24, 2018
Tic tac GOAL!
Take another look at the great passing to set up the Vesey goal!Stay tuned for more #NYR ? on @MSGNetworks. pic.twitter.com/UknRT9W3vA
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 24, 2018
The Rangers would have answer five minutes 30 seconds into the period after Ryan Strome took advantage of an aggressive Copley to put home a wraparound for his first goal as a Ranger to tie the game at three.
But the Capitals would regain the lead with approximately six and a half minutes left when Brett Connolly put home a one-timer to make the score 4-3. Tom Wilson would add more insurance with an empty netter to secure the 5-3 win for the Caps.
The Rangers lose this game at home, the first time they lost at Madison Square Garden since Oct. 21 when the Calgary Flames defeated them 4-1. This was also the first time the Rangers lost two straight games since Oct. 25 and 28 when they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings on the road.
The Rangers next game is on Monday, where they will be looking to start a new winning streak when they face the Ottawa Senators at home.
Coach Quinn's reaction to today's #NYR loss to Washington. pic.twitter.com/dEMe1HZFvM
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 24, 2018
