Recap: Rangers Drop Valuable Extra Point, Fall 3-2 in Overtime to Capitals

Biggest game of the season? How many times has that been said prior to the start of a Rangers game throughout the year. However, for the first time in a long time, it’s being said with the Rangers back in a playoff position. In what would be a first round matchup if the playoffs started today, the Rangers took on the Washington Capitals. With plenty of history between the two teams, there was no shortage of entertaining hockey to be had but in the end, the Rangers missed out on the extra point.

1st Period: 

Most important game of the season and what do the Rangers do? That’s right, give up a goal within the first two minutes. A sloppy effort off a defensive zone face-off win from Trocheck resulted in Tom Wilson chipping it ahead to Pierre-Luc Dubois who fired a shot off the post and in to make it 1-0 early. 22 games this season the Rangers have allowed a goal within the first five minutes…TWENTY-TWO. Twelfth time it's happened within the first two minutes. Beyond unacceptable. 

The pace gradually picked up as the Rangers attempted to shake off another bad start and nearing the midway mark of the period, the Panarin line came close to converting following an excellent effort from Alexis Lafrenière who stripped the puck from a Caps skater. Trocheck ended up with a partial breakaway as a result and Panarin was there for the rebound but couldn’t get enough on it. That ended up becoming just the beginning of a really effective shift from that line that doubled their shot total and generated some threatening offense. 

The tide turned on the following shift as Lars Eller ended up on a breakaway and pulled off a move that Igor Shesterkin was able to read like a book as he came up with the pad save on the backhand. Alexis Lafrenière answered that with an exceptionally physical shift as he caught Rasmus Sandin off balance, leveling him into the boards and laid a textbook reverse hit on Nic Dowd that sent him straight back to the bench. It’s going on ten games since Lafrenière last scored but if he continues to play like this, that drought will surely end soon.

With about six and a half to go in the first, a great defensive play from Zac Jones created a breakout for the Rangers. Upon entering the zone, Lafrenière dropped a pass over to Jones who let a shot go that deflected off the stick of Panarin to tie the game up 1-1. 

The Rangers ended up with the first penalty of the night in what became a double minor as Brett Berard took a stick up high from fellow rookie Ethan Frank with four and a half to go. The top unit would get some decent looks, primarily at the start of the advantage but as time went on, the Capitals were clearing the puck and keeping it out of harm's way with relative ease. 

The Capitals would kill off the entirety of the Rangers’ four minute power play that only registered one shot on goal. That coupled with the fact that the Rangers gave up another goal within the first two minutes made for an overall mediocre period but, there were some positives. Specifically with how hungry Lafrenière appeared to be to make a difference. Shots after the opening twenty were 8-7 in Washington’s favor while the Rangers led in attempts and high danger chances. 

2nd Period:

Just over five minutes into the second stanza, one of the only teams in the league to have more too-many men penalties than the Rangers this season, picked up their eleventh one of the year to send the Rangers back to the power play. Unfortunately, it became another disastrous showing as the Rangers nearly picked up a too-many men penalty of their own as the second unit took the ice. 

Nearing the midway point of the period, a great effort from K’Andre Miller to keep the puck in the zone helped maintain a strong shift from the fourth line. Miller threw the puck on net which allowed for Sam Carrick to make a move in front to put the rebound home, 2-1 Rangers. 

Just 33 seconds later, the Capitals would get their first power play of the night as Urho Vaakanainen was called for interference. No harm associated with the foul as the Rangers were able to hold the Caps off for a successful penalty kill. Soon after the team’s returned to even strength as Tom Wilson and Matt Rempe were jawing off with each other, Sam Carrick ended up dropping the gloves with Brandon Duhaime. 

Tensions continued to rise with five minutes to go in the second as Brennan Othmann took a bit of a nasty hit from Matt Roy. As Othmann was on the ice in discomfort, Jusso Pärssinen stood up for his new teammate and challenged Roy to a fight that came to a quicker end as Pärssinen lost his footing after a couple of punches.  

The Rangers ended up with a power play as Roy was also penalized for the hit on Othmann which gave them their third power play chance of the night. It would be about as ineffective as their last two and came to an end with 15 seconds remaining as Trocheck was called for holding. Another successful penalty kill from the Rangers wrapped up an eventful period as the Rangers came out of it with their first lead of the night. Washington still had the slight edge in shots, 15-13. 

3rd Period:

Two things you can say with certainty about this Rangers team as of late: They have been much more responsible defensively and are playing the game with more consistent tenacity. This was evident in the third period as they were defending the Capitals well and not hesitating from going the extra mile. Matt Rempe had a big moment in that regard as he laid his large body in front of a John Carlson shot to help maintain their one goal lead. 

Nearing the midway point of the third, as Washington went the other way with the puck after a shot from Calvin de Haan was blocked, Zac Jones was called for hooking. Following a shorthanded rush from the Rangers, Washington kept Shesterkin busy at the other end of the ice. The penalty to Jones came to an early end as Andrew Mangiapagne took the puck to the net and Alex Ovechkin managed to sneak one past Shesterkin. Ovi now sits at 885 career goals, just 10 away from passing Wayne Gretzky’s record. 

With the game now tied, the Rangers were back to the penalty kill as Will Borgen was given a penalty for hooking Mangiapagne leading up to the goal. The Capitals ended up calling a timeout midway through this one to rest up their power play unit but the Rangers weathered the storm and came out of the second penalty unscathed.

It was a low event final quarter of the period save for a shot from Taylor Raddysh shot that hit the post. Matt Rempe had another pick blocked shot in a late shift from the fourth line and a K'Andre Miller shot from the point in the final minute sparked some excitement but this one was heading to overtime.

Overtime:

With no Adam Fox, K'Andre Miller took his place with the usual duo of Panarin and Zibanejad. The Rangers controlled possession to start and Shesterkin came up with a big save on Ovechkin to keep things going. Both team's were cautious with possession but unfortunately, Dylan Strome patiently maneuvered around Braden Schneider on a 2-on-1 and fed Tom Wilson for an easy goal at the door step.

The Rangers pick up a point against a top team in the East which all things considered, isn't bad. However, still a frustrating loss that stings, especially with Wilson picking up the game winner. The Rangers also lose their playoff spot as the Ottawa Senators picked up an overtime win and have the better win differential despite being tied with points with the Rangers.

Which is fitting consider the Rangers next game comes on the road, in Ottawa in what will be, yet another contender for most important game of the season. Schedule won't get any easier with Columbus on the second half of the back to back this weekend.