Photo: @Capitals
The Washington Capitals lost to the New York Rangers by a score of 4-1 at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of the best-of-seven first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series on Sunday afternoon. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 27 saves in his postseason debut.
Washington’s Lines
Alex Ovechkin — Connor McMichael — T.J. Oshie
Aliaksei Protas — Dylan Strome — Tom Wilson
Max Pacioretty — Hendrix Lapierre — Sonny Milano
Beck Malenstyn — Nic Dowd — Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary — John Carlson
Alexander Alexeyev — Dylan McIlrath
Trevor Van Riemsdyk — Vinny Iorio
Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper
Scratched: RW Ivan Miroshnichenko, C Mike Sgarbossa, D Lucas Johansen
Out: D Ethan Bear (NHLPA players assistance program), C Nicklas Backstrom (hip), D Rasmus Sandin (upper-body), D Nick Jensen (upper-body)
Five members of the 2023 Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears made their Stanley Cup Playoffs debut Sunday in Manhattan. Lapierre, Protas and Malenstyn – all Washington draft picks – established career highs in goals, assists and points in 2023-24.
New York’s Lines
Chris Kreider — Mika Zibanejad — Jack Roslovic
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle — Alexander Wennberg — Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey — Barclay Goodrow — Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren — Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller — Braden Schneider
Erik Gustafsson – Jacob Trouba
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Scratched: D Chad Ruhwedel, D Zac Jones
Out: RW Blake Wheeler (leg), C Filip Chytil (concussion)
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring
None
Shots: 7-4 New York
Other Notable Stats: 8-6 Washington in blocked shots, 11-6 New York in hits, 58% New York on faceoffs, both teams got two power plays
Screenshots: Natural StatTrick
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring
4:17, 1-0 New York: After Vesey rimmed the puck around the backboard, Goodrow bumped it back to him with Washington defenders coming and Vesey fed it across to Rempe, who beat Lindgren under the glove.
MATT REMPE FIRST PLAYOFF GOAL 😱
(🎥: @BR_OpenIce) pic.twitter.com/97MLmtb3H2
— BarDown (@BarDown) April 21, 2024
4:50, 2-0: Lafreniere checked Iorio into the boards to retrieve the puck and send it to Trocheck, who set up Panarin at the right dot and Panarin sniped a wrister under the glove of Lindgren. Iorio left the game with an upper-body injury and was questionable to return but never did.
What a play by Alexis Lafreniere pic.twitter.com/Pt2QzUSolS
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) April 21, 2024
6:23, 3-0: Vesey ripped one that went off of Lindgren and in off of a faceoff win by Goodrow.
Another Rangers goal as Jimmy Vesey flutters home Goodrow’s faceoff win, 3-0 New York!#NYR pic.twitter.com/NZIvWtV7Je
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 21, 2024
7:31, 3-1: Fehervary tipped a wrist shot by Wilson with his skate while cruising to the net after Protas, who recorded his first career postseason point, set Wilson up in the high slot. Wilson has tallied five points (two goals) in his last five games. The goal was the first in the postseason of Fehervary’s career.
Martin Fehervary guides home Tom Wilson’s fantastic pass, getting one back for the Capitals!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/spH0fQJV49
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 21, 2024
Shots: 16-15 New York, but 11-9 Washington in the second
Other Notable Stats: 24-14 New York in hits, 15-12 Washington in blocked shots, Washington was held scoreless on three power plays through 40 minutes
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring
16:17, 4-1: Kreider got sprained all alone on a breakaway by Zibanejad after he got the puck in the defensive zone before getting Lindgren down and beating him to the right pad.
What a beauty by Chris Kreider 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/rdBewDFIa7
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 21, 2024
Shots: 31-21 New York, including 15-6 in the third
Other Notable Stats: 18-16 New York in blocked shots, 29-17 New York in hits, 56% New York on faceoffs, Washington finished with four power plays
Game 2: Tuesday at Madison Square Garden (7 PM ET, Monumental Sports Network locally, ESPN nationally)
By Harrison Brown