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Capitals start slow again in 3-2 loss to Rangers Capitals start slow again in 3-2 loss to Rangers
(about 13 hours later)
As has become routine recently, the Washington Capitals fell behind against the New York Rangers on Friday night and then clawed their way back into it. But another spirited rally couldn’t be completed with another comeback as the Capitals lost to the New York Rangers, 3-2, at Verizon Center. As has become routine recently, the Washington Capitals trailed and then chased down the lead. But another spirited rally couldn’t be completed as the Capitals lost to the New York Rangers, 3-2.
The loss ended a streak of 12 games with at least a point against Metropolitan Division opponents, and it was Washington’s ninth consecutive one-goal game. The loss ended a streak of 12 games with at least a point against Metropolitan Division opponents, and it was Washington’s ninth straight one-goal game. Though Coach Barry Trotz was relatively happy with how his team played Friday, he figured the Capitals have tempted fate too many times.
“I think there’s always hockey gods,” Trotz said.
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With the game tied entering the final frame, the Rangers pulled ahead just 17 seconds into the third period. Derek Stepan’s shot from the high slot deflected off Brooks Orpik, who was attempting to block the shot. Instead, the puck changed direction and skipped past goaltender Braden Holtby. That was the second Rangers goal of the game that Orpik and defense partner Dmitry Orlov had been on the ice for, a rough night for the duo. With the game tied entering the third period, the Rangers pulled ahead just 17 seconds in. Attempting to rim the puck up to T.J. Oshie, Dmitry Orlov had his pass intercepted by Ryan McDonagh, who relayed the puck to Derek Stepan. Stepan shot it from the high slot, and the puck deflected off Brooks Orpik, who was attempting to block it.
The Capitals have been critical of themselves recently, especially frustrated with their string of poor starts. They have allowed the first goal of the game in nine of their past 11 contests, and despite winning the vast majority of those games, the team does not want that habit to continue entering the playoffs. On Wednesday night, several players said there wasn’t enough emotion on the ice. Instead, the shot changed direction and skipped past goaltender Braden Holtby. The defensive pairing of Orpik and Orlov was on the ice for both of New York’s even-strength goals, but Trotz said he thought they were “fine” and that he anticipated them staying together.
“I think we’re struggling a little bit to get mentally engaged, physically engaged in the game,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said earlier this week. “The good thing is we respond, and I think we show a lot of pride — pride in ourselves. We expect a lot of ourselves. I think we see that scoreboard and we’re down or we’re not playing well, and I think as a group we take it personally. . . . But it seems like a trend lately where — I don’t know what it is — but we seem like we can’t get physically engaged soon enough in the game, and then we have to climb back into the game.” That game-winning goal came after the Capitals had an impressive second period, in which they rallied from a 2-0 deficit.
“It was so quick,” Holtby said. “Obviously, it doesn’t look like a very good goal, so it’s not one that we can let happen again.”
The Capitals have been critical of themselves recently, especially frustrated with their string of poor starts. They have allowed the first goal of the game in nine of their past 11 contests, and even though they have won the vast majority of them, it’s not a habit Washington wants to continue entering the playoffs. On Wednesday night, several players said there wasn’t enough emotion during the game, which was why Trotz thought it was almost fitting they lost Friday.
“I don’t think we’re getting too frustrated with it,” Holtby said of the slow starts. “We’re a little confused as to why it’s going on. It’s one of those things where we’ve got to fight through it somehow.”
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The Capitals again fell into an early deficit against the Rangers. Playing their third game in four nights, Washington allowed the first goal of the game less than six minutes in . Holtby played the puck, which led to a giveaway. With traffic in front of the net, the puck bounced around like it was in a pinball machine. The Capitals again fell into an early deficit against the Rangers. Playing their third game in four nights, Washington allowed the first goal less than six minutes in. After all three forwards went to the bench for a line change, Holtby played the puck with no options around him, and that led to a giveaway. With traffic in front of the net, the puck bounced around like it was in a pinball machine.
Orpik tried to get his stick on it to clear it out of the Capitals’ zone, but he pushed it toward Jesper Fast, who punched it past Holtby. Orpik tried to get his stick on it to clear it out of the zone, but he pushed it toward Jesper Fast, who punched it past Holtby. The Rangers extended the first-period lead with Keith Yandle’s snap shot from the blue line on a power play, putting Washington down 2-0 after the first period, the same deficit they had rallied from in a 3-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
Washington got a power play after Marc Staal tripped Andre Burakovsky eight minutes into the period, but the Capitals wasted too much time trying to move the puck up the ice, struggling with zone entries. They didn’t get a shot on goal during the man-advantage. “We’re not doing it on purpose, that’s for sure,” Nicklas Backstrom said. “We want to come out hard. We want to have a good start. It’s hard to catch up every game.”
Meanwhile, the Rangers scored on their lone power play of the period. Keith Yandle’s snap shot from the blue line weaved through bodies and into the net. Yandle skated out to center ice for a celebration, skating down to one knee and pumping a fist. With that tally, the Capitals were down 2-0 after the first period, the same deficit they had rallied from in a 3-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
Friday saw a similar comeback. Nearly 11 minutes into the period, Rangers goaltender Antti Raanta saved a Mike Richards shot, and defenseman Kevin Klein appeared to sweep the crease clean. But with the fourth line crashing the net, Jay Beagle got a second poke on the puck, and after a lengthy review, it was ruled that the puck completely crossed the goal line after Beagle’s second effort.Friday saw a similar comeback. Nearly 11 minutes into the period, Rangers goaltender Antti Raanta saved a Mike Richards shot, and defenseman Kevin Klein appeared to sweep the crease clean. But with the fourth line crashing the net, Jay Beagle got a second poke on the puck, and after a lengthy review, it was ruled that the puck completely crossed the goal line after Beagle’s second effort.
New York initiated a second review for goaltender interference, but it was still a good goal. The Capitals entered the game undefeated in regulation when Beagle has scored in his career (22-0-5), and this score came in just his fourth game back to the lineup after he broke his left hand and missed 24 games. The goal was also the first for the fourth line in nearly a month, an encouraging sign for a newly formed trio in just its second game together. New York initiated a second review for goaltender interference, to no avail.
The Capitals got a power play late in the period, and this time they capitalized. Stepan had a shorthanded chance, but he missed the net, and the puck rimmed around the boards to T.J. Oshie. He got the puck in transition, an odd-man rush flying toward Raanta. Oshie stutter-stepped around Staal before scoring the equalizer. The Capitals entered the game undefeated in regulation when Beagle has scored in his career (22-0-5), and this score came in just his fourth game back in the lineup after he broke his left hand and missed 24 games.
The goal was also the first for the fourth line in nearly a month, an encouraging sign for a newly formed trio in just its second game together. The Capitals got a power play late in the period, and after Stepan misfired a shorthanded chance, the puck rimmed around the boards to Oshie for an odd-man rush in transition.
He scored on that play to tie the game, but on his first shift in the third period, a puck that was supposed to rim around the boards to him didn’t get there, instead finding its way past Holtby. This time, the Capitals didn’t recover.