WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Capitals got some offensive help from new faces in their 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers.
Defenseman Timothy Liljegren and forward Boone Jenner both recorded their first goals in red on Friday, scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals.
“We’re a deep team, and we have a lot of guys who can contribute every night, so it’s good to see both guys get on the board,” said goaltender Logan Thompson.
Head coach Spencer Carbery highlighted both players’ milestones in his postgame speech and presented them with the goal pucks.
Spencer Carbery’s postgame speech
After Rangers forward Alexis Lafrenière broke the ice midway through the first period, Liljegren responded in the second to tie the game 1-1. The goal came off a pass from Dylan Strome, which Liljegren turned into a one-timer that rocketed past Igor Shesterkin.
Timothy Liljegren’s goal
Liljegren came to DC at last season’s trade deadline but did not score for the Caps, playing just four games and going without a point before signing a two-year extension in May. He admitted postgame on Friday that his memory of the play was a bit hazy, but he was glad to get his first with the Caps in the books.
“It felt good,” Liljegren said. “I don’t really remember the goal, to be honest. I feel like I just followed up in the play, and Stromer had cut back and found me for a one-timer. I don’t really know who screened the goalie there, but obviously Shesterkin didn’t see anything, so it was nice to see it go in.”
“Lily’s goal sparked us a bit,” said Jenner. “You can see that.”
Carbery later praised Liljegren’s overall game while speaking to reporters after the win.
“(He’s) moving pucks well,” Carbery said. “Gaps are great. Closing so well. And he gets rewarded for it too and scores a huge goal.”
Jenner gave the Capitals their first lead of the night just over 10 minutes after Liljegren tied the game. After the Rangers retreated into their own zone, Vincent Desharnais turned an attempted pass from Adam Fox into a turnover, sending the puck to Jenner in the slot. With no one between him and goaltender Dylan Garand (who came in for Shesterkin after a scary injury), Jenner had little trouble finding the back of the net.
Boone Jenner’s goal
Jenner signed a four-year contract with the Capitals as a free agent in July, coming to DC after 14 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he had been the captain since 2021. So far, he has ranked second among all Capitals forwards in five-on-five ice time, adding 12:16 to that total on Friday.
When asked about his goal postgame, Jenner shifted credit to his teammates, especially Desharnais.
“It stems from the forecheck,” he said. “Those guys are forechecking hard. They rim it around, and Vinny does a great job just staying in there.
“That’s what creates it. He’s right in that guy’s pocket, and I’m able to get a bounce off it and bury one. But it comes from the forecheck and working hard.”
Liljegren and Jenner became the second and third Caps to get their first with the team this season, joining Alex Tuch, who has notched three goals in his first four games for Washington.
