The NHL point-leading New York Rangers came into town for an early afternoon game to close out the Washington Capitals regular season. However, things didn’t go as quite as planned.
After an intense beginning ten minutes to the game, the Rangers got on the score sheet first, courtesy right winger Kevin Hayes.
At the 3:14 mark, Rangers center Derick Brassard notched his 100th career NHL goal on a slap shot from the point. The goal came on the power play and put New York up 2-0.
“The guys were ready but they scored the first two goals and they jumped on us early,” Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin following today’s loss to the Rangers. “We made mistakes and it cost us the game.”
“We came up a little bit flat in the first and they capitalized,” Capitals Head Coach Barry Trotz said as well.
Rangers center Dominic Moore would make it a 3-0 game early in the second period.
The Capitals tried to play catch-up when Ovechkin notched his 53rd goal of the season and 25th power play goal late in the second. That goal by Ovechkin marked the most man-advantage goals in a season since Teemu Selanne — in the league over 20 years — scored 25 in 2006-2007. The left winger also set the Capitals’ franchise record for most power play goals in a season.
Center Nicklas Backstrom also tallied his 60th assist on the season on the Ovechkin goal. That makes it his second straight season of 60+ assists and the fourth time he has done so in his career.
An empty net goal for the Rangers and Capitals right winger Stanislav Galiev’s first NHL goal with 28 seconds remaining in the game would close out today’s scoring.
“It was not one of our best games,” Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner said about the loss.
The 4-2 loss means Capitals’ goaltender Braden Holtby will remain tied with Olaf Kolzig for the franchise lead of 41 wins in a season. He also will remain tied for the franchise lead with nine shutouts this season.
“I don’t think we are going to put a lot of thought into this game,” Holtby said. “We are just going to move on.”
The Washington Capitals finish the regular season 45-26-11. They will be anxiously waiting to see what happens between the New York Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at 7 p.m. An Islanders win would mean the playoff series will start at their Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island. Game One will take place at the Verizon Center however if there is either a regulation or overtime loss by the team.
“It’s a secret,” said Ovechkin on a laugh when asked about Washington’s match up with New York.