Rangers keep rolling, rout Capitals 5-1
Dec 27, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Washington Capitals center Aliaksei Protas (21) skates past New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider (4) in the first period at Madison Square Garden. credits: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports K'Andre Miller had two goals and an assist and the New York Rangers beat the visiting Washington Capitals 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist and Mika Zibanejad, playing in his 800th NHL game, had two assists for the Rangers, who have won five of six. Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves.
Anthony Mantha scored in his third straight game (four goals) for the Capitals, who have lost two straight. Darcy Kuemper made 26 saves.
Mantha gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 4:12 of the second period. He entered the zone on a two-on-one with Alex Ovechkin and scored over Shesterkin's glove from the left circle. It was his 11th goal of the season, matching his output over 67 games last season.
The Rangers tied it at 7:03 when Miller worked a give-and-go with Zibanejad and scored on a backhand shot from the slot.
Panarin put the Rangers ahead with a power-play goal at 12:08. Vincent Trocheck passed to Panarin, who scored on a wrist shot top corner from the bottom of the right circle for his team-leading 19th goal.
The Rangers have scored at least one power-play goal in eight straight games.
Braden Schneider increased the lead to 3-1 just 40 seconds later with his third goal of the season, scoring through traffic from the center point.
Shesterkin robbed Washington rookie Ivan Miroshnichenko with a pad save early in the third.
Miller increased the lead to 4-1 at 6:54 of the third when he received a pass from Chris Kreider on the rush and scored through a screen from just above the left circle for his seventh goal of the season.
With his 10th goal this season, Alexis Lafreniere made it 5-1 at 11:15 from inside the right circle off a pass from Adam Fox.
Zibanejad shot wide on a breakaway early in the first period. Washington's John Carlson was called for hooking on the play, but the Rangers were unable to convert during the ensuing power play.
Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba left with an upper body injury early in the second period.
—Field Level Media
Sunday MLB Best Bets: Back Zack Wheeler and Shohei Ohtani
Dan Lanning Has Oregon on the Verge of Something Special
Three August Sports Events You Won’t Want to Miss
Sam Leavitt Faces Massive Expectations at LSU
- White Sox vs. Rays Picks: Best Bets for Friday’s MLB Showdown
- WNBA Picks: Three Best Bets for Friday’s Fever, Wings and Storm Games
- Orioles vs. Tigers Bet Picks: Best Predictions for Tuesday July 28
- WNBA Picks Tuesday: Best Bets for Lynx, Fever and Aces
- Guardians vs. Reds Monday Prediction: Best Bets for the Battle of Ohio
- MLB Best Bets for Sunday's Rockies vs. Brewers, Yankees vs. Phillies
- UFC Abu Dhabi Best Bets: Top Picks for Ankalaev vs. Guskov Fight Night

