New York Rangers: Up and Down Performance Leads to OT Loss
Blueshirts rally late, falter in overtime
There were a few positives to take away from the Rangers‘ overtime loss to the Capitals on Saturday afternoon.
Alex Ovechkin did what he does best: score on the Rangers. He lit the lamp for the 23rd time this season, this one on the power play, bringing his career total to 498.
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Eyes On Isles
Justin Williams would had his 12th goal of the season late in the second period and it looked like the Blue Shirts were going to be shut down by Vezina Trophy front-runner Braden Holtby yet again.
But in the third period, the Rangers suddenly came to life, finally getting that secondary scoring they had so desperately needed for so long. Oscar Lindberg cut the lead to one around the six minute mark before Kevin Hayes, he who had been a healthy scratch recently, knotted the game up less than four minutes later.
Viktor Stalberg would give the Rangers the surprise 4-3 lead with just under seven minutes to go in the period. As the seconds ticked away, it looked like the Rangers had a potentially huge victory stolen from the jaws of defeat and against one of the best teams in the entire league no less.
Alas, it was not to be. With just six seconds to go in regulation, Nicklas Backstrom would bury the game-tying tally, sending things to an extra session.
In overtime, it as Ovechkin striking down the Rangers once again. Just 1:25 into overtime, Ovechkin would connect on career goal #499, putting him just one shy of joining rarefied air in the NHL record books. Also worth noting: it as his 20th career goal against Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist, the most he’s scored against any goalie in the NHL.
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On the bright side, at least it’s a point for the Rangers and every one will matter as they battle the Islanders, Penguins and Devils for those two remaining Metropolitan Division playoff spots. Not only that, but they showed great resiliency in overcoming a two-goal deficit against arguably the best team in the NHL right now.
On the down side, this was another in a seemingly long line of blown leads for the Rangers. It’s bad enough to blow leads, but when your club is struggling, blowing those leads becomes even more magnified.
Next: Stars align for big win against Dallas Stars
The Rangers are back at it on Monday night when they’ll host the Boston Bruins.