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The MVP in MSG: Caps beat Rangers 5-2

The view from MSG’s bridge, from Caps Road Crew

Brutal weekend. Or at least it would have been without the best player in the NHL, Alex Ovechkin. The New York Rangers looked speedy and cohesive, whereas the Capitals looked discombobulated and panicky– but Alex Ovechkin grabbed this game by the horns and tamed it like a folk hero. Jason Chimera had a huge third period, and all of a sudden a nightmare weekend wasn’t so bad after all.

Alex Ovechkin started us off just four minutes in, carrying the puck into the Rangers zone and using the D as a screen to beat Cam Talbot. The next two goals belonged to New York: the first Kevin Hayes’ solo effort after John Carlson’s woeful turnover, the second Derek Brassard’s rush goal after Niskanen’s bad pinch.

Ovechkin struck again in the second period, using Joel Ward as a screen to knot the game heading into the final period.

Jason Chimera scored twice (I know, right?!) in the third period– both times by crashing the net and both times with the help of Brooks Laich and Eric Fehr. Marcus Johansson got the empty netter as soon as Cam Talbot left the crease.

Caps beat Rangers 5-2.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin Scores 49th Goal From Just Outside The Ovi Spot (GIF)

Photo: Jared Silber

Alex Ovechkin is now one goal away from 50. Late on a second-period power play, Ovechkin received a beautiful cross-ice saucer pass from Nicklas Backstrom, just outside the left circle.

Ovechkin wound up and fired into Joel Ward‘s screen. The puck appears to deflect off Dan Boyle‘s skate, through Cam Talbot‘s five-hole, and into the net.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin’s 48th Goal (GIF)

And that makes 48 goals for Alex Ovechkin. Early in the first period, Joel Ward set Ovechkin loose in the Rangers zone. Ovi outmuscled the D, moved to the Ovi spot, and released a screened shot to beat Cam Talbot.

1-0 Capitals.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Caps at Rangers Pregame: Get Over It

Rough night for Hank (Photo: Jim Rogash)

I’ve got mixed feelings about yesterday’s loss to the Nashville Predators. The first period was genuinely awful, and the game was filled with all sorts of narrative wretchedness concerning former teams and abandoned prospects, but the Caps put up an honest comeback effort, and Troy Brouwer’s contributions shouldn’t be dismissed.

That said, it’s all in the past now. Barry Trotz made some noise about having no short-term memory in this final stretch. I see the virtue in that. As the Caps prepare to take on the Rangers, I hope they can leave their behinds in the past.

Team	Record	Possession	PDO	Power Play	Penalty Kill
Washington Capitals	40-25-10	51.9%	100.1	24.4%	81.5%
New York Rangers	47-20-7	51.2%	101.8	17.4%	84.2%

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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