Rangers takeaways: Leaky defense allows 46 shots, faceoff losses pile up, and more from 5-3 loss to Capitals

The New York Rangers and Washington Capitals met for the first time since the former swept the latter earlier this spring in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But for the Capitals, they managed to exact some revenge—even if the only prize was two regular-season points in the standings.

The Capitals hit the scoreboard with captain Alex Ovechkin's third goal of the season, only to have Will Cuylle respond just under a minute later to knot the score.

Ovechkin once again lit the lamp for his second goal of the night, giving him his 856th career tally. He's now only 38 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 892 goals.

Washington's opening-period offensive showing continued minutes later with Connor McMichael's fourth goal of the season, giving the host Capitals a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.

Longtime Rangers forward Chris Kreider notched his sixth goal of the year, connecting on the power-play to cut the deficit to one. Both teams continued to trade goals, as Aliaksei Protas scored for Washington, while Filip Chytil responded for New York.

The Capitals then repelled every attempt by the Rangers to knot the score and sealed the win when Nic Dowd scored into the vacated net.

3 biggest takeaways from New York Rangers 5-3 loss to Washington Capitals

#3. New York's defense was too porous and allowed too many chances

The Rangers have been a defensively sound team for most of the young season, ranked 3rd last in total goals allowed.

Multiple defensive breakdowns paved the way for the Capitals to move with ease through the neutral zone, drawing the frustration of head coach Peter Laviolette.

“So no, tonight, definitely not, the answer to that is that we needed to defend much better than what we did with much more attitude than what we did,” he said.

“I think there have been times this year where we have defended pretty well but I don’t think we defended really well," he added.

#2. The Capitals dominated in the faceoff circle

Winning 61.8% of the faceoffs during Tuesday's game, the Capitals routinely gained control of the puck in the offensive zone, setting up multiple opportunities against Shesterkin.

#1. The Rangers were badly outshot by a 46-19 margin

The 45 shots New York allowed were a season-high and the most that they allowed from the opposition since allowing 42 last year.

Shesterkin did everything he could with 41 stops, but without a meaningful offensive attack of their own, the Rangers proved no match for the Capitals.

The Rangers return home to Madison Square Garden in Manhattan to face the visiting Ottawa Senators on Friday.