The New York Rangers swept the Washington Capitals in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, sending the Capitals back to D.C. as the Rangers advanced to Round 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Capitals entered the playoffs after a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. They clinched the final playoff spot, beating both the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Capitals were set to start the playoffs against the New York Rangers, who ended the season with 114 points, making them number 1 in the league.
Their franchise-breaking points also granted them the 2024 President’s Trophy and they were the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
During the four-game series, the Capitals had 17 power play chances and only scored on two of them. They had 7 goals during the series, whereas the New York Rangers scored 15 against goaltender Charlie Lindgren. In total, the Capitals had 101 shots on goal and the Rangers had 104 shots.
Alex Ovechkin went scoreless for the entire series, which is the first time in 24 career playoff series that he was held without a point. He also only managed to get 6 shots at goal in the series, which is another career low for the veteran Capital. Before this, his series low was 17 points.
Ovechkin blamed himself for the playoff loss.
“It’s always tough to lose a series,” he said in an interview with ESPN. “We had pretty good chances. We just didn’t score. Our line didn’t score a lot of goals. Blame me. I didn’t play well.”
Throughout the short series, Capitals’ Martin Fehervary scored two goals, one in the first game and one in the final game. Rangers’ center Vincent Trocheck scored 3 goals during the series, giving him a three-game streak of scoring a goal in each game.
The first two games of the series were played in Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Rangers. On April 21s, the Rangers dominated the first game 4-1, with the first goal being scored by rookie Matt Rempe 4 minutes into the second period. This was his first goal of his career.
Forty seconds later, Rangers’ left wing Artemi Panarin scored, leading the game 2-0. Jimmy Vesey of the Rangers scored six and a half minutes in, making the score 3-0. Capitals’ Martin Fehervary scored a minute later, which put the Capitals on the leaderboard with the score 3-1.
Chris Kreider scored the final goal of the game 16 minutes into the third period, which concluded the game 4-1.
The second game was won by the Rangers 4-3 on April 23. Connor McMichael of the Washington Capitals scored the first goal of the game, putting the Caps on the scoreboard 1-0. Only two minutes later, center Vincent Trocheck scored followed by center Mika Zibanejad on a powerplay, ending the period 2-1.
Four minutes into the 2nd period, Capitals center Dylan Strome scored on their power play, tying the score 2-2. Jack Roslovic of the Rangers scored on a power play 12 minutes into the period, followed by fellow Ranger K’Andre Miller scoring 16 minutes into the 2nd period. The period ended with the score 4-2.
The only goal scored in the third period was by Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals. The Capitals’ try for a comeback was unsuccessful as the game ended with the Ranger’s win.
The Capitals took the series back to Capital One Arena for the last two games, starting on April 26, when the Rangers won 3-1. The first goal was scored five and a half minutes by Capitals defenseman John Carlson scored. Only 30 seconds later, Chris Kreider of the Rangers scored, tying the game 1-1.
Two minutes after Kreider scored, Rangers center Barclay Goodrow scored, leading the Rangers 2-1. Fifteen minutes into the 2nd period, Vincent Trocheck, center for the New York Rangers, scored the final goal of the game on a power play, the final score being 3-1. Rangers’ goalie Igor Shesterkin had a save percentage of 96.7% with 29 saves.
The final game of the series was played on April 28, where the Rangers defeated the Capitals 4-2. Kaapo Kakko of the New York Rangers scored the first goal of the game only 57 seconds in, putting the Rangers on the scoreboard 1-0.
Martin Fehervary tied the game 14 minutes later with the score 1-1. Vincent Trocheck, center for the Rangers, scored on a powerplay with 15 seconds left in the first period, leaving the score 2-1.
The only goal scored in the second period was by Hendrix Lapierre of the Washington Capitals, which tied the score 2-2. The Rangers asserted dominance in the 3rd period with a powerplay goal by Artemi Panarin and an empty netter by Jack Roslovic, making the final score 4-2.
The Rangers’ sweep over the Washington Capitals was the only 4-0 series in Round 1 of the 2024 Stanley Playoffs. They are set to play the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2.
While the Capitals have valuable players that make the team flourish, they were no match for the New York Rangers with their power play goals and goaltending skills.
