Capitals 1
Rangers 2 (SO)
Once again the Capitals failed to earn two points during regulation then lost to the Rangers in a shootout. The victor of all three games against the Rangers have now been decided in shootouts.
The first goal of the game was scored by Matt Hendricks(7) in the second period, assisted by Marcus Johansson(6) and Scott Hannan(7). The assist by Hannan was his first point as a Washington Capital. The Hendricks goal was unanswered until the third period when Marian Gaborik(16) scored off of assists by Brian Boyle(9) and Sean Avery(18).
Washington did a great job of staying out of the penalty box and only went short handed once in the first period and then again in the third period. Alex Ovechkin took a penalty for diving in the third period but it was offset by Brandon Prust also receiving two minutes for holding. Washington was out-shot by the Rangers 28-17 in regulation, and only surpassed the Rangers in shots on goal in the overtime period 6-1 bringing the total shots on goal to 29-23. While the Capitals have done a better job of shutting down the oppositions offense, they will not be able to win in regulation with only 17 shots on goal.
Braden Holtby played a phenominal game in the net during regulation and overtime. Holtby stopped 28 shots and allowed only one goal with a .966 SV%. The shootout was not as successful for Holtby who had never been in an NHL shootout. Holtby was lured out of the crease then caught out of position after hesitations by Rangers shooters on two of the shots.
Shootout results:
WSH Ovechkin - Save
NYR Wolski - Goal
WSH Hendricks - Goal
NYR Zuccarello - Goal
WSH Backstron - Goal
NYR Boyle - Miss
WSH Johansson - Save
NYR Anisimov - Goal - Game winner
Mike Green was the ice time leader for the Capitals with 29:19, including a team high 3:32 of power play time. Green also had one shot on goal, one blocked shot and two hits. Alex Ovechkin had just over twenty-four minutes of ice time including 3:15 on power plays. Ovechkin also had 6 shots on goal, two penalty minutes, and two hits. Matt Hendricks finished the game with one goal, plus-1, three hits, 4 shots on goal, and 15:27 total ice time. John Erskine led the team with five hits. John Carlson blocked the most shots for the Capitals, preventing 4 shots.