The Washington Capitals needed a strong start on Tuesday night, and for their part, they did just that.
The Caps came out swinging in Game 2 against the New York Rangers, scoring the game’s first goal and taking an early 1-0 lead to silence a rocking Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan. But as the evening progressed, penalties and special teams woes crippled any momentum Washington attempted to generate as they fell to 0-2 in their opening round series to the Rangers by the score of 4-3
“Overall, much better than the first game,” Capitals Head Coach Spencer Carbery told the media at the podium following the loss.
Head coach Spencer Carbery’s full postgame media availability following Game 2 of the #StanleyCup Playoffs in New York.#CapsRangers pic.twitter.com/LcdA1azNVp
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 24, 2024
“We did a ton of really good things, so that’s the positive. Offensively, way better, speed through the neutral zone, way better. Offensive zone time, sustained pressure, and some different looks off of that. Some sequences where we’re able to get some offensive zone changes, all exponentially better.”
He went on to say, “Now, to the mistakes, we make four or five of them that you just can’t make at this time of the year. And it’s tough because guys are trying, and they want to do the right thing.”
Despite two power-play goals from Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson, Washington’s special teams unit had a night to forget. The Caps gave up a pair of power-play goals of their own, and courtesy of an Alex Ovechkin fumbled puck in neutral ice, Washington gift-wrapped a short-handed goal to New York, making it 4-2 late in the second period.
“We’ve got to find a way to limit the penalties and make some adjustments,” said Strome, who finished with 18:09 TOI and a power play goal. ” I know we all feel like we’re still in the series.”
The night’s big story revolved around several head-scratching calls and non-calls from the officials. 11 total penalties were called in the game, six of which were called against Washington.
But A 3rd-period collision involving TJ Oshie and Artemi Panerin boiled over on the ice and social media, leaving just about every non-Rangers fan scratching their heads.
Artemi Panarin did not get a penalty for this hit on TJ Oshie but Oshie has left the game pic.twitter.com/khawdaZwwG
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 24, 2024
After being pulled from the ice for a concussion following contact to the head and neck area, officials would go to review and assess Washington’s Connor McMichael with a 2-minute roughing penalty in response to the hit, and the Rangers would go on to be held scoreless on the ensuing power play. Oshie would return to the ice later in the game.
“I honestly haven’t watched it, I didn’t see it, I saw the very tail end of it live. It’s one of those things that looks like he’s going after him a little bit,” Tom Wilson said about the hit.
“Osh is in a vulnerable spot, and he gets him high. I don’t know if he gets him in the head; I don’t know; I haven’t watched it. It’s one of those things where everybody stands up, you know, he definitely went after him. So that’s playoff hockey, and you’re going to get hit, you’re going to give hits. I think Osh is okay, so that’s the main thing.”
Elsewhere around the team, Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin was held scoreless for the second game in a row and has yet to record a point in these playoffs, while Goalie Charlie Lindgren also had a less-than-stellar night, saving 23 of 27 shots.
For the Rangers, their stars came out to shine at home, with a 5-on-5 tip-in goal from Vincent Trocheck to tie it at 1-1. The Rangers would find the back of the net on three power-play goals. Mika Zibanejad’s wrist shot in the 1st period and two snap-shot goals from Zach Roslovic and K’Andre Miller in the 2nd period. New York Goalie Igor Shesterkin finished the game 22-25 between the pipes.
The saying, “A series doesn’t start until someone loses at home,” seems fitting for the Capitals fan base. Washington will have a few days off to get reinforcements from the injured list and defend home ice on Friday at 7 pm in Capital One Arena in a must-win Game 3.