Tom Wilson scored against the team he's ruffled the most during his NHL career, T.J. Oshie had two goals with a fight mixed in and the Washington Capitals beat the New York Rangers 6-3 on Saturday, snapping their six-game skid.
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) controls the puck before scoring on New York Rangers goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. The Capitals won 6-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey New York Rangers goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) leaves his crease to make a save against Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. The Capitals won 6-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals players react at the enof of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. The Capitals won 6-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals players celebrate after a goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. The Capitals won 6-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey New York Rangers goaltender Jaroslav Halak makes a save against the Washington Capitals during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. The Capitals won 6-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel (96) collides with linesman Steve Barton (59) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. The Capitals won 6-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) skates with the puck as Washington Capitals left wing Conor Sheary (73) challenges him for it during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. The Capitals won 6-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov skates with the puck against the New York Rangers during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. The Capitals won 6-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey New York Rangers defenseman Ben Harpur shoots against the Washington Capitals during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) skates by his bench after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) and Washington Capitals defenseman Erik Gustafsson (56) compete for possession during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie reacts after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals defenseman Erik Gustafsson, center, and teammates celebrate a goal by right wing T.J. Oshie, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Rangers Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) and New York Rangers center Barclay Goodrow fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A game that had everything from highlight-reel goals and a fight to a potentially significant injury left one playoff-bound team searching for answers and gave a fading rival a glimmer of hope with plenty of regret about not turning things around sooner.
T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov each scored twice, Tom Wilson had a goal against the team he’s ruffled the most during his NHL career and Washington Capitals beat the New York Rangers 6-3 on Saturday, snapping their six-game skid.
“Divisional opponent coming in and big rivalry, emotional game, sometimes those are the ones that a team comes together,” Wilson said. “We showed up ready to play.”
The Rangers’ rough run continued with their fourth consecutive loss, which included a costly injury coming on top of another defensive letdown. Top-pairing defenseman Ryan Lindgren left in the first period after taking a hard hit from Oshie into the boards with his left shoulder first and did not return.
Coach Gerard Gallant had no postgame update on Lindgren’s status. But he called the hit “dirty” and “cheap,” and his players immediately knew it wasn’t good.
“He’s a real heart-and-soul guy who does everything for our team,” forward Chris Kreider said. “It definitely hurts the team a lot to lose Ryan like that. Really isn’t another Ryan Lindgren, so it’s a big loss for us.”
But while Kane can produce plenty offensively — his 1,225 points rank fourth among U.S. players — the three-time Stanley Cup champion doesn’t solve New York’s problem of keeping the puck out of its own net. Even All-Star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who denied countryman Alex Ovechkin and others with some big saves, couldn’t save the day against the Capitals, giving up five goals on 22 shots before getting pulled after two periods.
“It wasn’t the goalie’s fault, trust me,” Gallant said. “It was more the team. It was all the team.”
Kuznetsov scored one time each against Shesterkin and Jaroslav Halak, while Sonny Milano had Washington’s other goal. Beyond scoring twice, Oshie fought Barclay Goodrow, who was unhappy with the hit on Lindgren, and assisted on Milano’s goal to give him a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.
“I get paid a lot of money to put offense up on the board and haven’t been doing it as of late,” Oshie said. “Felt good to get a couple.”
The crowd erupted each time, silencing the many fans in blue who started “Let’s Go Rangers!” chants early and had only Goodrow’s deflection goal in the first period and one each from Kreider and Kaapo Kakko in the third to celebrate.
There hasn’t been much to be happy about for the Capitals lately, given their struggles and the trade Thursday of defenseman Dmitry Orlov and winger Garnet Hathaway, though this game, with an offensive outburst and Darcy Kuemper’s 23 saves, provided a much-needed respite.
Washington is still expected to trade more pending free agents before the deadline but with the win got to 64 points and remains in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild-card race.
The Rangers are solidly in as one of the top three teams in the Metropolitan Division, but another defeat hurt their chances of keeping pace with the second-place New Jersey Devils, who could also make a move or two before the deadline in advance of the teams’ potential first-round showdown.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
Capitals: Visit the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
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Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
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