First Period:
- Mika Zibanejad (20) Assists: Alexis Lafreniere (4), Zac Jones (2)
Second Period:
- Alexis Lafreniere (11) Assists: Ryan Lindgren (6)
Third Period:
- Chris Kreider (34) Assists: Adam Fox (42)
- Barclay Goodrow (11) Assists: Ryan Reaves (8), Kevin Rooney (5)
- Alex Ovechkin (32) Assists: Evgeny Kuznetsov (34)
Three Stars:
- 3: Mika Zibanejad
- 2: Igor Shesterkin
- 1: Alexis Lafreniere
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- This was one of the more impressive wins of the season for the Rangers and certainly, by far, their best performance since returning from the break. They looked a lot more like the team that played those final two periods against the Panthers before the break than the team that showed up for the last three.
- The Rangers did a great job of frustrating the Capitals. The Rangers were faster, sharper and certainly a lot more physical. The Capitals had some sporadic chances and good shifts, but for the most part they were out of sync and unlike the team we expected the Rangers would face. The Capitals were flat and the Rangers were able to take advantage.
- Igor Shesterkin certainly didn’t need to steal this one, but he was more than up to the challenge when the Caps had their sporadic chances. He just continues to be great. It will be interesting to see if Gerard Gallant gives him Pittsburgh on Saturday or Vancouver on Sunday. Gallant has routinely given Shesterkin the “easier” game of the back to backs this season and that has usually been the second game. I’d like to see Shesterkin against the Penguins in what could very likely be a playoff match up, but it wouldn’t shock me at all if Alex Georgiev makes his first start in forever on Saturday.
- This was another one of those games where you wonder if this is it for Alexis Lafreniere and he’s about to take off. He made that terrific drop pass to Mika Zibanejad on the first goal, went to the net and deflected the second goal and overall strong game. He’s had some good games and some average games lately, but maybe he is starting to find a higher level of consistency.
- I can’t say whether Ryan Reaves’ presence tonight was why Tom Wilson was basically a no-show, but Reaves definitely made his mark tonight. He helped set the physical tone that the Rangers have been lacking since coming back from the break. I continue to underestimate how important his role is for this team on the ice.
- I really think that Morgan Barron should be in the lineup every night in place of Julien Gauthier. Gauthier has his one or two good chances or shifts every few games, but Barron brings more energy, physicality and jam. That spot that Gauthier/Barron could be battling for will probably end up being filled by someone the Rangers acquire before the deadline.
- Next up is the Penguins. They were beat by the Devils tonight and have now lost three in a row. Their play has dropped lately, but you have to figure that getting blown out by the Devils 6-1 was a case of them looking ahead to Saturday. The Rangers will probably see the best of the Penguins on Saturday.