Recap: We Are So Back, Rangers Win 2-1

Following a four game losing skid, the Rangers picked up a massive pair of points to get back on track with a 2-1 win over Washington. It wasn’t the prettiest of showings, but there was no question that heading into this one it was both a must win and a can’t lose. The big headline going into the second half of the matinee back to backs was Kaapo Kakko’s return to the lineup after missing 21 games with a lower-body injury. Without skipping a beat, he hopped right back on that top line with Zibanejad and Kreider to help propel this team to a much needed win.

1st Period:

The Rangers got off to a much better start than they did yesterday as it only took them 50 seconds to find the back of the net. Vincent Trocheck fed a perfect pass to Artemiy Panarin that he one timed right to the back of the net to give the Blueshirt’s an early 1-0 lead.

Despite the stronger start, the Rangers still found themselves at an early disadvantage as Chris Kreider was sent off for high sticking just over seven minutes in. Special teams have been mostly a miss for the Rangers as of late but their penalty kill has been a hit as they keep the Caps off the board through the two minute advantage.

As play resumed, the teams kept pace but it wasn’t a shot heavy game as both teams has under five shots each. With close to five minutes to go, the Rangers headed to the power play as Martin Fehervary caught his stick up high on Alexis Lafrenière. Again, the Blueshirt’s couldn’t find a way to get going on the man advantage as the Capitals killed the two minutes off with ease.

With just a minute to go in the period, it was Alexis Lafrenière who found himself in all alone with Charlie Lindgren. A low shot resulted in a rebound that Lafrenière was able to send to the back of the net to extend the lead, 2-0 Rangers.

It would’ve been close to a perfect period if the Rangers didn’t take another penalty as time ran out. Blake Wheeler got his stick caught up with Anthony Mantha with 12 seconds to go in the period which gave Washington an advantage to start off the second period. Despite the late penalty, the Rangers had a much better start and out-shot the Capitals 10-6.

2nd Period:

The Rangers killed off the Capitals power play but aside from that, it was quite the slow start to the games middle period as neither team really generated much through the first half of the second.

Just over the midway mark of the game, Erik Gustafsson attempted to clear the zone for the Rangers but it was Tj Oshie who grabbed the puck out of mid air to keep it in play. After throwing it to the net, Dylan Strome kept it in play before it ended up back on Oshie’s stick where he sent it to the back of the net to cut the Rangers lead in half, 2-1.

Not long after the Caps got on the board, Martin Fehervary found his way back to the penalty box as he was called for interference. Second penalty of the night drawn by Lafrenière. About a minute into the man advantage, Nic Dowd was sent off for roughing as he caught Adam Fox up high behind Washington’s net. This gave the Rangers a massive opportunity to put the game away on a 5-on-3 but again, the power play remained ice cold. The Rangers had as good a chance as they’d get throughout the afternoon but Charlie Lindgren absolutely robbed them with a glove save from in up close to keep it a 2-1 game.

This gave Washington some momentum to end the period as they had a couple of chances to tie things up but Shesterkin and the Rangers held them off the board to keep the score 2-1 to head into the second intermission. After 2, the Rangers continued to out-shoot their opponents 21-18 with Washington picking it up a bit on the high danger scoring chances.  For the most part, the Rangers had control of the game but the longer they went without converting on the power play, the more in reach the game remained for Washington.

3rd Period:

The Caps we’re doing everything they could to give the Rangers the chance to get their power play going as Joel Edmundson was sent off a minute and a half into the third for high sticking… Alexis Lafrenière (third penalty he drew on the day). Fourth power play of the game for the Rangers and again, no dice as time ran out and the teams resumed even strength play.

Jimmy Vesey had a great opportunity to extend the Rangers lead on a breakaway but again, Charlie Lindgren came up with a big save. For what it’s worth, Lindgren’s been great this season, especially against the Rangers as he started his second game in a row against them, third of the season as up to this point, he was undefeated against New York.

Things again evened out for the better half of the period but just over the midway mark it was yet again Alexis Lafrenière drawing a penalty as John Carlson was called for high sticking. Quite the effective night for 13 in blue who had what became the game winning goal and drew four penalties along the way. Didn’t help the Rangers out any though as they still had nothing to show for on the power play throughout the day. It got to the point where the Garden Faithful was chanting “shoot the puck” in unison as the Rangers continued moving the puck around, looking for that perfect passing play instead of throwing everything they could on net. On top of that, the shots they were getting off were going off the skates and shin pads of the Caps penalty killers left and right.

About a minute after what would be the Rangers final power play chance of the night, Braden Schneider and Tj Oshie were sent off for coincidental stick infractions which sent the teams to two minutes of 4-on-4 on play. Despite it still being even, it appeared as if the Rangers were shorthanded as Washington started to take control of possession with a good amount of time remaining.

As time dwindled down, the Rangers were just barely hanging on to the lead as Washington was doing everything they could to climb their way back into the game. Igor Shesterkin, who had one of his better showings as of late, came up with a massive glove save to get his team a whistle after they struggled big time to clear the zone. For as important as it was for this team to snap the losing streak, Shesterkin needed a win after a couple of tough starts in recent play. The Caps pulled Lindgren for the extra skater and had some chances to get things tied up but thankfully, the Rangers held on and would take the 2-1 win on home ice.

A much needed win after the Rangers hit their big first slump of the season. Finally tally on shots would be 31-25 in favor of New York. The Rangers are back at it on home ice Tuesday Night as they play host to the Seattle Kraken.