New York Rangers control Capitals to 5-2 win and push Washington on brink of elimination

The New York Rangers took down the Capitals on Sunday afternoon in the final matchup between the two teams this season. The Rangers rode another brilliant goaltending performance by Igor Shesterkin. Rangers fans could even be heard throughout the Capitals building chanting Shesterkin’s name as the Russian-born goaltender rode a shutout into the late second period.

The New York Rangers take down the Washington Capitals in 4-1 that pushes the Capitals further toward elimination

With the loss, the Capitals stay at 77 points on the year, eight points behind the second Wild Card spot. With five games left on the schedule, and four of them against current playoff teams, it looks like the Capitals' season could be over after today.

The New York Rangers jumped out to an early lead seven minutes into the game. Vincent Trochek flipped the puck into the net, which was deflected out to the right by Darcy Kuemper. K’Andre Miller, breaking towards the goal, took the puck and flipped it with his backhand on goal and past the out-of-position Capitals goalie.

Two minutes later, Alexis Lafreniere added his 13th goal of the season and extended the New York Rangers' lead to two. Filip Chytil turned the puck over for the Rangers in the neutral zone and fed Lafreniere, breaking for the goal. Lafreniere toe dragged past Rasmus Sandin and buried a backhand past Kuemper. 2-0 Rangers, end of the first.

A minute into the second period, another costly Capitals mistake led to a goal for the New York Rangers. Kaapo Kakko's centering pass from the corner bounced off of a Capitals' defender's skate and into the net past Kuemper to make the score 3-0.

Dylan Strome took the goose egg off the board for the Capitals late in the second period. Strome drove past the New York Rangers net and tried to feed a centering pass. Instead of the puck going out in front of the net, it bounced off of Igor Shesterkin’s right pad and into the net.

In the third period, the Rangers stayed on the gas. Five minutes into the final frame, Vladimir Tarasenko put the puck in the net for the Rangers, continuing his hot streak in a different shade of blue with a snipe past Kuemper. Rangers were up, 4-1.

The Capitals crept closer in the third period when Aliaksai Protas made it a two-point game. However, minutes later, Mika Zbinejad put the lead back to three with a power-play goal to make it 5-2.

WIth the win, the Rangers creep ever closer to the New Jersey Devils for home ice advantage in the playoffs. They’re now three points behind the Devils with an easier remaining schedule.