The Washington Capitals are down two games to none in their first-round series against the New York Rangers, but tonight optimism renews. The Capitals beat the Rangers in both of their home games at Capital One Arena and tonight marks the first home playoff game since May 13, 2022.
Washington will be without defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Nick Jensen again as they have yet to feature in the series. The two blueliners practiced in regular jerseys at the team’s morning skate but haven’t recovered enough from their upper-body injuries to get a gameday sweater. Lucas Johansen will get his second career NHL playoff game on the backend.
Up front, Ivan Miroshnichenko is making his NHL playoff debut in place of Nicolas Aube-Kubel on the Capitals’ fourth line. Sonny Milano is also good to go after he missed a practice earlier this week for maintenance.
Tonight’s game is on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is a bit after 7 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
New York Rangers
Tunnel weirdness
PLAYOFF HOCKEY BACK IN THE DISTRICT#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/rnnbvQ9WAU
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 26, 2024
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Igor Shesterkin in net. Ovechkin-McMichael-Oshie and Carlson-Fehervary get the start.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. John Carlson catches Shesterkin napping with a simple wrist shot in the slot. The Russian netminder appeared to think the puck was going over the net but it caught the top corner and gave the Caps an early lead. Carlson struck at the 5:34 mark of the first frame.
🚨 1-1 tie. The lead evaporated almost immediately as Chris Kreider tipped home a Mika Zibanejad shot. The Capitals can’t hold onto another early lead in this series as the Rangers scored on their literal next shift. Kreider gets on the board at the 6:08 mark.
Capitals draw the first power play of the game. Chuckie’s brother Ryan Lindgren heads to the box for cross-checking Beck Malenstyn.
🚨 2-1 Rangers. Barclay Goodrow scores the second shorthanded goal in two games for the Rangers. Another really tough goal to take as New York ended up with an immediate odd-man rush with the Caps up a man. Brutal. Goal scored at the 8:08 mark of the first.
Capitals back to the power play after Matt Rempe hits Trevor van Riemsdyk late and in the head. Only an interference minor was handed out. TVR down the tunnel.
Matt Rempe sends Trevor van Riemsdyk down tunnel after late hit with head contact
Tom Wilson sent to the box after an interference call behind the Rangers net. Not sure what the refs saw on this one.
The Rangers killed that off and then took another penalty late in the first. Alexander Wennberg was called for hooking on Max Pacioretty with under two minutes left in the frame.
New York is outshooting the Capitals 10 to 8 and is out-attempting them 15 to 11 at five-on-five. The Capitals primarily were burned by another shorthanded goal against. Really rough.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Capitals announce that Trevor van Riemsdyk will not return to the game after taking the illegal hit from Rempe.
INJURY UPDATE: #Caps Trevor van Riemsdyk sustained an upper body injury and will not return
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 27, 2024
Igor Shesterkin somehow keeps Max Pacioretty out with a huge save in the low slot. He lifts the puck and we have a tie game.
Capitals heading to their fourth power play of the game. Former Cap Erik Gustafsson to the box for slashing Alex Alexeyev.
Now Alexeyev has been called for his own penalty, tripping Kaapo Kakko.
🚨 3-1 Rangers. Vincent Trocheck extends the New York lead as he gets to the front of the net and finishes off a nice feed from Mika Zibanejad. Special teams killing the Capitals again.
Washington is heading right back to the penalty kill. Two minors for roughing for Nic Dowd. K’Andre Miller also gets a minor for roughing.
Hendrix Lapierre denied by Shesterkin after an open look in the slot.
The Rangers are outshooting the Capitals 18 to 15 and are out-attempting them 28 to 124 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Capitals get an early-period power play after Barclay Goodrow cross-checks Nic Dowd.
Igor Shesterkin with two big stops on Tom Wilson and another on Dylan Strome. After giving up the soft one to Carlson he’s been perfect.
Another power play for Washington after Will Cuylle boards Martin Fehervary.
The Capitals are 0-for-6 on the power play.
Beck Malenstyn gets called for holding on K’Andre Miller with just 3:31 left in regulation.
3-1 Rangers win. New York leads the series 3-0.
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