Ragged: Rangers down Caps 4-2

October 22, 2016 9:29 pm

It was foam blinking thing night at Verizon Center. Fittingly, the Washington Capitals delivered a headache of a hockey game.

Things started auspiciously when Lars Eller scored his first goal with the Capitals just 93 seconds into the game after an excellent setup by Brooks Orpik! Alex Ovechkin added another one late in the period when his wrist shot went by a screened Henrik Lundqvist.

The second period was a disaster. First, Brandon Pirri scored from the high slot after a defensive misplay by the Caps. Then Jimmy Vesey netted his second and third career goals in quick succession. On just five shots, the Rangers scored three goals while controlling possession.

The Caps couldn’t mount a comeback in the third. Rick Nash got the empty netter. Rangers beat Caps 4-2.

The Capitals have scored first in all five games they’ve played this season. They lead the league in wins when scoring first with four victories, continuing a trend from last season when they went 34-2-2 when they managed to net the opening strike. Here’s an advanced stat: the team with a one-goal lead is more likely to win. It wasn’t enough Saturday night.
Every Caps defensemen I’ve talked to this season has told me the coaches have told them to be more aggressive on offense this season. The result is clear. With Brooks Orpik‘s assist on the opening goal, Washington d-men now 10 points in five games this season. All six blueliners that have dressed have notched at least one point. Here’s what Barry Trotz told me this morning: “If your D aren’t part of your attack you aren’t going to get much offense in this league. I don’t care who you are or how good of a player you are, it won’t happen. That’s where the game’s gone to, four and five man attack.”
Orpik often lets pucks scoot by him at the blueline, but his play on Lars Eller‘s first goal with the Capitals was beautifully executed. He kept the puck in and on his tape before firing a wrist shot straight at Eller, who was parked in front of the net.
I’m going to commit a cardinal sin: the Rangers first goal was Nate Schmidt’s fault. Bring it, Pat.

https://twitter.com/Chris_Gordon/status/789981311960252416

The Capitals’ third line, which was scoreless in Washington’s first three games, now has goals in two straight contests.
Alex Ovechkin partied like it was the Adam Oates head coaching era (everyone’s most favorite best era) with a shot from the right wing, using Marc Staal as a screen. Ovi has a three-game goal-scoring streak. He has scored in 10 of his last 11 games against the Rangers (12 goals total).
The most DC tweet:

https://twitter.com/Chris_Gordon/status/789979711589998593

~~Entitled asshole~~ Harvard product and hockey wunderkind Jimmy Vesey scored his second and third career goals just three minutes apart. Karl Alzner got torched on the second.

Vesey’s first goal came off a rebound on the a Rangers power play after Matt Niskanen took a roughing penalty. The Capitals penalty kill, which ranked second in the NHL last season, has now given up a goal in four of five games this year.
Henrik Lundqvist was the difference in this one. The Rangers outplayed the Capitals, but Lundqvist stopped Washington point blank a myriad of times.
The Rangers had three goals on five shots in the second period. Woof. (I don’t know why people say woof after bad things.)
Tom Wilson‘s corsi-for percentage: 22. Yikes.
Zach Sanford to Hershey: discuss.