New York Rangers (27-26-8 62pts) v. Washington Capitals (34-21-7 75pts)
Game Recap:
For the Washington Capitals, they finally get to return home but it would be spoiled right away as Chris Kreider would score 21 seconds into the game to give the New York Rangers a 1-0 lead. However, the Capitals would respond late in the period as both Nicklas Backstrom and Michal Kempny would score to give the Capitals 2-1 lead going into the first intermission.
Then in the second period it would be a penalty affair that would see Tom Wilson score on the powerplay for his 17th of the season to give the Capitals a 3-1 lead. But then later in the period Brady Skjei would do a blast from the point to beat Pheonix Copley to cut the Capitals lead to one going into the second intermission.
The Rangers would open the period the same way they started the game with a goal 21 seconds into the period, this time by Jimmy Vesey with a knuckler from the point to tie the game. The Capitals would respond with back to back goals from Nic Dowd and Backstrom to give them their two goal lead back. However, on a Carl Hagelin hooking penalty the Rangers would get a weird bounce off of Vladislav Namestnikov for the powerplay goal and reduce the Capitals lead to one again. The with 30 seconds left in the period Skjei would score his second of the game to tie this game at 5 a piece and send the game to overtime.
In overtime, this one would almost go the distance but it would be Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov connecting for the game winner with 40 seconds left in what was a mayhem filled sequence.
Lineups:
New York Rangers:
Chris Kreider — Mika Zibanejad — Jimmy Vesey
Vladislav Namestnikov — Ryan Strome — Jesper Fast
Filip Chytil — Lias Andersson — Pavel Buchnevich
Brendan Smith — Boo Nieves — Connor Brickley
Brady Skjei — Fredrik Claesson
Marc Staal — Neal Pionk
Tony DeAngelo — Kevin Shattenkirk
Henrik Lundqvist
Alexandar Georgiev
Scratched: Adam McQuaid, Kevin Hayes
Injured: Brett Howden (knee sprain)
Washington Capitals:
Alex Ovechkin — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana — Nicklas Backstrom — T.J. Oshie
Andre Burakovsky — Lars Eller — Brett Connolly
Carl Hagelin — Nic Dowd — Chandler Stephenson
Michal Kempny — John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov — Matt Niskanen
Brooks Orpik — Nick Jensen
Pheonix Copley
Braden Holtby
Scratched: Dmitrij Jaskin, Travis Boyd, Christian Djoos
First Period:
Rangers Goal – :21 – Chris Kreider (26) from Jimmy Vesey (17) and Mika Zibanejad (35)
Rangers Penalty – 4:19 – Brady Skjei 2 minutes for Cross Checking
Capitals Goal – 18:42 – Nicklas Backstrom (14) from John Carlson (47) and TJ Oshie (20)
Capitals Goal – 19:03 – Michal Kempny (6) from Brett Connolly (18) and Andre Burakovsky (11)
End of 1st – NYR – 1 WAS – 2
Shots 07 07
Faceoffs 10 05
Hits 00 00
PP 0/0 0/1
Second Period:
Capitals Penalty – 1:24 – Dmitry Orlov 2 minutes for Hooking
Rangers Penalty – 3:39 – Lias Andersson 2 minutes for Holding
Capitals PPG – 5:09 – Tom Wilson (17) from Jakub Vrana (20) and Lars Eller (20)
Rangers Penalty – 6:01 – Bench (Chris Kreider) 2 minutes for Too Many Men
Rangers Penalty – 12:47 – Lias Andersson 2 minutes for Roughing
Capitals Penalty – 12:47 – Michal Kempny 2 minutes for Roughing
Capitals Penalty – 15:50 – Lars Eller 2 minutes for Slashing
Rangers Goal – 18:18 – Brady Skjei (5) from Connor Brickley (2) and Lias Andersson (4)
End of 2nd – NYR – 2 WAS – 3
Shots 20 20
Faceoffs 17 16
Hits 12 13
PP 0/2 1/3
Third Period:
Rangers Goal – :21 – Jimmy Vesey (15) from unassisted
Capitals Goal – 2:25 – Nic Dowd (6) from Travis Boyd (12) and Brooks Orpik (4)
Capitals Goal – 3:01 – Nicklas Backstrom (15) from unassisted
Capitals Penalty – 4:54 – Carl Hagelin 2 minutes for Hooking
Rangers PPG – 6:01 – Vladislav Namestnikov (8) from Neal Pionk (16) and Anthony DeAngelo (18)
Capitals Penalty – 6:23 – Matt Niskanen 5 minute major for Fighting
Rangers Penalty – 6:23 – Dylan Strome 5 minute major for Fighting
Capitals Penalty – 6:23 – Tom Wilson 2 minutes for Roughing
Rangers Penalty – 6:23 – Ryan Strome 2 minutes for Roughing
Rangers Penalty – 6:23 – Anthony DeAngelo 2 minutes for Roughing
Capitals Penalty – 6:23 – Tom Wilson 2 minutes for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Capitals Penalty – 16:17 – Brooks Orpik 2 minutes for Roughing
Rangers Penalty – 16:17 – Connor Brickley 2 minutes for Roughing
Capitals Penalty – 16:17 – Brooks Orpik 2 minutes for Cross Checking
Rangers Goal – 19:29 – Brady Skjei (6) from Kevin Shattenkirk (18) and Mika Zibanejad (36)
End of 3rd – NYR – 5 WAS – 5
Shots 30 32
Faceoffs 29 28
Hits 16 20
PP 1/4 1/3
OT:
Capitals Goal – 4:20 – Evgeny Kuznetsov (16) from Alex Ovechkin (28) and Dmitry Orlov (15)
End of OT – NYR – 5 WAS – 6
Shots 31 35
Faceoffs 30 28
Hits 16 20
PP 1/4 1/3
Next Up:
Washington (35-21-7 77pts) v. Ottawa (22-34-5 49pts)
NY Rangers (27-26-9 63pts) v. Tampa Bay (47-11-4 98pts)
