WASHINGTON (AP) — Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko scored goals just over two minutes apart, Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves and the Rangers beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Sunday to snap a two-game skid.
The so-called “Kid Line” of 21-year-old Lafrenière, 22-year-old Kakko and 23-year-old Filip Chytil, which could be a difference-maker for New York in the playoffs, produced offense for the third time in four games. Chytil, who recently signed a $17.5 million, four-year extension, assisted on Lafrenière’s goal to pick up his fifth point in five games.
Shesterkin gave up a bad-angle goal to Dylan Strome but made several big stops to continue rounding into form just over two weeks before the first round begins. Chants of “Igor! Igor!” echoed around the arena filled with Rangers blue several times after the reigning Vezina Trophy winner kept the puck out of the net on the way to his 35th victory this season.
Those fans had plenty to cheer, from Lafrenière’s dazzling move around Rasmus Sandin to goals by defenseman K’Andre Miller, trade deadline pickup Vladimir Tarasenko and top center Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers moved three points back of the rival New Jersey Devils for second place in the Metropolitan Division with five games to play.
Washington lost a fourth in a row and for the seventh time in eight games, inching closer from being eliminated and ending the team’s eight-year streak of playoff appearances. Aliaksei Protas scored to end a 36-game goal drought, and Darcy Kuemper finished with 29 saves.
NOTES
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin got a 10-minute misconduct for a series of stick infractions that set off a couple of fights late in the game. … Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren was out for the 17th time in 18 games with a left shoulder injury. … Brother Charlie Lindgren missed the game with an illness, forcing the Capitals to dress 2018 draft pick Mitchell Gibson as Kuemper’s backup after signing the Harvard goaltender to an amateur tryout agreement. … Capitals forward Sonny Milano returned after missing the previous three games with an upper-body injury.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night.
Capitals: Visit Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
