Rangers Down Capitals 3-1, Take 3-0 Series Lead; John Carlson Scores Lone Capitals Goal


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The Washington Capitals fell to the New York Rangers by a score of 3-1 on Friday night in Game 3 of their first round Stanley Cup Playoff series. The loss pushed the Capitals to a three games to none deficit ahead of Game 4 on April 28.

LINEUPS

The Capitals and Rangers made no changes in net, with Charlie Lindgren (0-2, 4.12 GAA, .864 Save %) and Igor Shesterkin (2-0, 2.00 GAA, .913 Save %)

Rookie and former first-round draft pick Ivan Miroshnichenko replaced Nicolas Aube-Kubel on the fourth-line, making his Stanley Cup Playoff debut.

CAPITALS

Alex Ovechkin-Connor McMichael-TJ Oshie
Aliaksei Protas-Dylan Strome-Tom Wilson
Max Pacioretty-Hendrix Lapierre-Sonny Milano
Beck Malenstyn-Nic Dowd-Ivan Miroshnichenko

Martin Fehervary-John Carlson
Alexander Alexeyev-Dylan McIlrath
Lucas Johansen-Trevor van Riemsdyk

Charlie Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper

Scratches: Vincent Iorio, Nick Jensen, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Rasmus Sandin, Hardy Haman Aktell, Mitchell Gibson, Mike Sgarbossa

RANGERS

Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Jack Roslovic
Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lefreniere
Will Cuylle-Alex Wennberg-Kaapo Kaako
Jimmy Vesey-Barclay Goodrow-Matt Rempe

Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Braden Schneider
Erik Gustafsson-Jacob Trouba

Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick

Scratches: Chad Ruhwedel, Zac Jones, Jonny Brodzinski, Adam Edstrom

1ST PERIOD

The Capitals got on the board first with just over four minutes gone by in the opening period, as Igor Shesterkin whiffed on a shot by John Carlson, putting the Caps ahead 1-0; TJ Oshie and Martin Fehervary were credited with the assists.

The Rangers answered just 34 seconds later on a goal by Chris Kreider, assisted by Mika Zibanejad and Jack Roslovic.

With Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (younger brother of Washington netminder Charlie) in the box for cross-checking, Barclacy Goodrow put the visiting Blueshirts ahead with a shorthanded goal at 8:08; Vincent Trocheck and Jacob Trouba assisted.

The Rangers found themselves down a man yet again with Matt Rempe in the penalty box for interference. The Capitals failed to convert and found themselves down just minutes later when Tom Wilson was called for an interference infraction of his own which Washington successfully saw off.

The two teams headed into the first intermission with the Rangers in front in Shots, 10-8.

2ND PERIOD

The Capitals failed to convert on their third power play and were left without Trevor van Riemsdyk, who was ruled out of the remainder of the game with an upper-body injury following his hit from Rempe.

The two teams traded chances and the Capitals saw multiple power play opportunities before Vincent Trocheck padded the visitors’ lead with a power play marker of his own at 15:22, assosted by Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox.

The Blueshirts held a 3-1 advantage on the scoreboard and 18-15 in SOG after 40 minutes.

3RD PERIOD

Despite additional power play opportunities, the Capitals failed to add to their lone goal. The Rangers stifled the Caps’ power play, keeping the home team scoreless on six man-advantages, while converting on one of their opportunities.

The game ended with the Capitals holding a 28-22 SOG lead, including a 13-5 margin in the final frame.

ICE SHAVINGS
– NHL Box Score
– TJ Oshie’s assist on John Carlson’s goal marked his 60th career playoff point as a member of the Capitals, tying Mike Ridley for sixth-most in franchise history
– Carlson’s 20th playoff goal of his career is fourth-most among active defenseman

By Michael Fleetwood

About Michael Fleetwood

Michael Fleetwood was born into a family of diehard Capitals fans and has been watching games as long as he can remember. He was born the year the Capitals went to their first Stanley Cup Final, and is a diehard Caps fan, the owner of the very FIRST Joe Beninati jersey and since then, has met Joe himself.

Michael joined the NoVa Caps team in 2015, and is most proud of the growth of the NoVa Caps community in that time. An avid photographer, Michael resides in VA.





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