The Washington Capitals played host to the red-hot New York Rangers on Friday night, looking to put an end to their rival’s four-game winning streak. Few players have found holes in Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin so far this year, as the Russian backstop looks in tip-top shape to start the season.
Alexis Lafreniere opened the scoring, putting away his fourth goal in just two games on a power play. The Capitals finally managed to solve Shesterkin in the second period as Timothy Liljegren sifted a blast from the point through a Jakob Chychrun screen. Boone Jenner then put the Caps ahead after ripping off Cole Beaudoin. Tom Wilson hit an empty net to seal the win.
Capitals beat Rangers 3-1!
- The Capitals really did not play poorly at all in the first period. The Rangers just have an absolute monster in their net. Washington allowed just one five-on-five high-danger chance through 20 minutes, but a bad penalty from Dylan McIlrath let New York take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. You may want more from Logan Thompson on that shot, too.
- Can’t say I love seeing a ton of McIlrath and Cole Hutson out there with Alex Ovechkin‘s line. The Capitals chose to use that deployment a few times, and I don’t think it’s a good idea. McIlrath being in the lineup in general isn’t a good idea either, and Spencer Carbery ended up benching him for most of regulation. Get healthy, Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin.
- Can we also talk about how a real NHL referee called Ryan Leonard for that tripping penalty at the start of the game? Is it a coincidence that his name is Mike Sullivan, the same name as the current Rangers head coach? The grand Sullivan conspiracy is afoot.
- Another pretty great showing from the Capitals in the second period, as they controlled the flow of the game and most of the chances. Pierre-Luc Dubois and his line were at it again, frustrating Mika Zibanejad‘s trio and getting the puck behind the Rangers’ net. They didn’t find the scoresheet five-on-five, but really turned the momentum in Washington’s favor every time they jumped over the boards.
- Really rough to see Igor Shesterkin leave the game injured just after I was singing his praises. He jammed his right leg hard into the goal post and immediately reacted as if he had just seriously injured himself. After staying down on the ice, Shesterkin needed help getting back to New York’s dressing room, unable to put weight on his injured leg. Hope it’s nothing too concerning for him.
- We do need to talk about how the Capitals were going to get a five-on-three power play right before Shesterkin got injured, though. PLD was fouled; the referee raised his arm, announced the penalty to the crowd, and then went back and took it off the board. For one, I didn’t even know you could do that. For two, there was definitely a penalty there, so why are we doing that?
- The Capitals took the lead after two goals from Timothy Liljegren and Boone Jenner, both scoring their firsts with the club. I think both guys have been excellent to start the season, playing really tough roles, too. Jenner has received more of the plaudits, but Liljegren, so far, is making the gamble the Caps took on him look like a good one.
- The Capitals sat back too much in the third period, letting the Rangers push for a comeback attempt. You’d want them to have found a third goal at some point, but Dylan Garand was also great in relief of Shesterkin.
- Can’t say enough good things about Jenner’s effort to start this season. That one third-period shift, where he was robbed of a drawn penalty, summed it up quite well.
- Logan Thompson was excellent again overall, but I probably could’ve written this bullet before the game even started, and it would have come true. Just an incredible trade a few years ago to bring him in.
The Capitals are sticking around their home rink for their next game, a Sunday evening dance with the Seattle Kraken. TJ Oshie will be between the benches on the call for Monumental Sports Network.
