04/26/24 09:46:00
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04/26 21:44 CDT Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series
lead on the Capitals
Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the
Capitals
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Hockey Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) --- Nothing seems to be able to knock the New York Rangers off
their game, certainly not giving up a fluky bounce goal five minutes in or
having seven penalties called on them.
Again they responded to whatever the Washington Capitals threw at them, and now
they're one win away from the second round.
Vincent Trocheck had a power-play goal and a short-handed assist, Igor
Shesterkin made 27 saves and the Rangers beat the Capitals 3-1 in Game 3 Friday
night, taking a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series. They can
advance with a victory in Game 4 Sunday night.
"We play really good," Shesterkin said. "But we need to win one more game, and
we focus on the next one."
The Rangers scored goals at even-strength 5 on 5, up 5 on 4 and down 4 on 5 in
a special teams showcase from the Presidents' Trophy winners who finished atop
the NHL regular season in part because of their potent power play. Trocheck set
up Barclay Goodrow short-handed and scored on the power play, while Chris
Kreider tipped the puck in for his franchise-best 42nd career playoff goal.
At the other end of the rink, Shesterkin looked like his 2022 Vezina
Trophy-winning self, robbing Max Pacioretty alone in front with a right pad
stop and turning away Alex Ovechkin, who remains without a point this
postseason. Shesterkin was perfect after allowing John Carlson to score on a
fluttering shot off Mika Zibandjad's stick just over five minutes in.
"Shesty was obviously spectacular again," Trocheck said. "He's a spectacular
goaltender. We need him to be the backbone of this team. He's been doing it for
years now."
A major reason for the Rangers pushing the Capitals to the brink of elimination
is that they only trailed in this one for 34 seconds until Kreider tied it.
Goodrow's goal put them ahead exactly 2 minutes later, and they led the rest of
the way through some choppy play and a handful of penalties called on either
side.
Following up on what they did back home at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday
night, the Rangers scored short-handed goals in consecutive playoff games for
the first time since April 1990.
"I actually thought there could have been a few more," coach Peter Laviolette
said. "We've been fortunate to cash in on that."
Washington, which was trying to keep play at 5 on 5 as much as possible to
better even out a series New York had the chance to dominate, again failed to
do so. Nearly a third of the game (18:31) was special teams, which plays into
the Rangers' favor.
It also made life difficult on goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who despite a
handful of crucial stops allowed three goals on 22 shots. Lindgren, who carried
the Capitals into the playoffs by shouldering the load down the stretch, has
been unable to get into any kind of a rhythm to perform the same heroics and
make this a series.
"Throughout the series so far, they've come up with the big moments, whether
that's answering, whether that's coming up with the next one, stuff like that,"
said Washington defenseman John Carlson, who played a game-high 30 minutes and
change. "It's disappointing."
Injuries haven't helped the Caps, who were again without two of their top four
defensemen: Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin. They lost another midway through the
first period when Trevor van Riemsdyk was hit up high by Rangers rookie Matt
Rempe, who could face another disciplinary hearing six weeks after being
suspended four games in March for an illegal check to the head.
"That was a dirty hit," Capitals center Nic Dowd said. "I think a player took
advantage of another player in a vulnerable spot. You're obviously hoping Riems
is all right."
UP NEXT
A Rangers win in Game 4 would send them to the second round, where they'd face
the Carolina Hurricanes barring them collapsing up 3-0 on the New York
Islanders.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
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