Will the Washington Capitals’ postseason dreams end after only seven days? That’s what we’ll learn tonight.
The Capitals are facing elimination in Game Four to the New York Rangers after losing the first three games of their first-round series. Tragic, sure, but it’s also not something that’s keeping me up at night.
I have a loser’s mindset (I loved these quotes from Spencer Carbery). I’m just happy this team got into the Stanley Cup playoffs. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching and reporting on them this season after last year felt like the goal was to both lose in the present and not develop for the future. Connor McMichael had seven more goals and 13 more points than Craig Smith this season btw.
The Capitals are yinging and yanging correctly again and so whatever the result tonight: I just hope the guys have fun out there and don’t feel the pressure of the moment.
The Capitals will get Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin back healthy in the lineup tonight while Ivan Miroshnichenko will sit in favor of Nicolas Aube-Kubel. Hendrix Lapierre and Sonny Milano will try to jumpstart Alex Ovechkin on the first line.
Just make sure to check out the Capitals’ odds of advancing to the second round after falling behind the first three games. It’ll make it even sweeter when they come back and win.
Tonight’s game is on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is a bit after 8 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
New York Rangers
Tunnel weirdness
Counting down to Game 4#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/XWHweITPeI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 28, 2024
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Igor Shesterkin in net. Pacioretty-McMichael-Oshie and Alexeyev-Jensen get the start.
🚨 1-0 Rangers. Rangers score on their first shot. Nick Jensen with a turnover right to Kaapo Kakko in front of the net on his first shift back. Kakko scores easily unassisted. This poses an immediate question: Was inserting two rusty defensemen into the lineup a good idea? Time of goal: 0:57.
Jensen tried to make a play on his backhand instead of stay to the boards on his forehand.
Jensen was tested on a two-on-one and then was below the offensive goal line on his next shift. When this guy is noticeable that’s usually when bad things are happening.
Frenetic pace for the game’s first few minutes. You can hear the nervousness in the Capitals’ crowd.
🚨 1-1 tie. Martin Fehervary ties it up after Aliaksei Protas catches Shesterkin guessing as he skates through the slot. Assists: Protas, Strome. Time of goal: 14:54.
Nick Jensen trips Adam Fox to close the period giving the Rangers their first power play. Penalty occurred at 18:51.
🚨 2-1 Rangers. Vincent Trocheck scores on the resulting power play after some great passing by the Rangers. Assists: Zibanejad, Panarin. Time of goal: 19.44.
Tom Wilson takes an undisciplined roughing penalty after the Rangers score. Just stupid. Dumb dumb dumb. 2014 Tom.
The Rangers outshot the Capitals 10 to 8 and out-attempted them 19 to 17 at five-on-five.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped. A reminder, the Capitals start the period on the PK because Adam Fox goaded Wilson into a penalty.
Beck Malenstyn has a shorthanded breakaway but is stopped by Shesterkin’s left pad or skate.
TJ Oshie keeps his feet moving along the boards and draws a tripping penalty on Braden Schneider at 3:15.
🚨 2-2 tie. Hendrix Lapierre uses his speed in neutral, skates through the entire Rangers’ defense. His first shot is stopped by Shesterkin, then picks up his rebound and scores on shot two. That’s Lapierre’s first career loffs goal. He caught Ryan Lindgren out on a 1:50 shift (per Locker). Assist: Alexeyev. Time of goal: 7:48.
The Capitals are outshooting the Rangers 18 to 17 (no that is not a typo) and are out-attemping them 35 to 32. This is the first time in the series the Capitals are not down heading into the third period.
CAN THEY DO IT?
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Nick Jensen with another turnover that almost results in a Rangers goal. He’s Mr. Excitement tonight and not the good kind.
TJ Oshie to the box for high-sticking Vicent Trocheck at 3:10.
🚨 3-2 Rangers. Artemi Panarin peels around Nick Jensen and scores on the power play. Assists: Zibanejad, Fox. Time of goal: 3:21.
Connor McMichael picks off a Jacob Trouba pass and draws a hooking penalty on Barclay Goodrow at 5:01.
Sonny Milano down the tunnel after taking a shot off the inside of his right leg.
Hendrix Lapierre takes a shot block off the body and is slow to get up.
Alexeyev with a wide open shot from the left circle, but he can’t beat Shesterkin high.
Rasmus Sandin puts his stick in the cookie jar and trips Artemi Panarin at 17:18. That’s going to really hurt the Capitals’ comeback attempt.
Capitals pull Lindgren while shorthanded.
🚨 4-2 Rangers. Jack Roslovic scores a rare power-play empty-net goal. Assists: Lafrenière, Trouba. Time of goal: 19:09.
Rangers sweep the Caps. Huge bad individual plays from Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin sink the team in Game 4.
Read the RMNB recap:
Comment on the game below along with us! The comment section will close shortly after the game ends and we hope you’ll continue the conversation in RMNB’s recap.
