Game information/links
Game preview
The Washington Capitals are hosting their Metropolitan Division rival, the New York Rangers, at Capital One Arena on Friday night. After a successful home-opening victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Caps will look to end New York’s four-game winning streak and start one of their own.
The Rangers dropped their season-opening game to the Boston Bruins in a 3-0 shutout but have since outscored their opposition 16-5 to race out to the NHL’s current best record. A trio of players leads New York in scoring, all with five points: Alexis Lafreniere (3g, 2a), Mika Zibanejad (1g, 4a), and Adam Fox (5a).
Igor Shesterkin, the club’s star goaltender, has been their early-season MVP, saving 4.1 more goals than expected, per MoneyPuck, and scoring a goal himself against the Lightning.
Notably, tonight marks the 52nd anniversary of the first game in Washington Capitals history. On Oct. 9, 1974, the expansion Caps debuted at Madison Square Garden, losing to the Rangers 6–3. TJim Hrycuik scored the Capitals’ first goal in team history.
Puck drop against the Rangers is shortly after 7 pm. Follow along below for live updates, highlights, analysis, and all of our assorted observations from the game. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network. How to watch.
Lines
Washington Capitals
New York Rangers
Matt Rempe was scratched by the way so there goes the effectiveness of that headline image.
Tunnel shenanigans
Goaltending matchup
1st Period
Ovechkin–Strome–Beauvillier and Fehervary–Desharnais get the start against Kartye–Miller–Dorofeyev and Gavrikov–Fox.
Puck is dropped.
Penalty kill
Ryan Leonard tripping penalty on Gabe Perreault at 1:36
Dorofeyev rings one hard off the post, grabbing a rebound just outside the crease.
Caps barely survive that Rangers’ power play.
Acrobatic glove save by Shesterkin stops a Jakob Chychrun one-timer from the top of the circles headed to the far side of the net. MNST had the shot going 89 MPH.
Laffy uses Chychrun curls to the middle, uses Chychrun as a screen, and fires a shot past LT. What a play. He now has four goals on his last four shots overall.
Penalty kill
Dylan McIlrath tripping penalty on Jaroslav Chmelar at 9:24
1-0 New York Rangers
PPG: Alexis Lafrenière (4). Assists: J. Miller (2), P. Dorofeyev (2). Time: 10:17
Capitals going to their first power play.
Power play
Cole Beaudoin hooking penalty on Ryan Leonard at 16:05
At intermission: The Rangers lead 1-0. The Capitals lead in shots 10-7.
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