The Rangers and the Capitals played some old time hockey this afternoon, with passion and emotions boiling over and some old school, non-staged shenanigans taking center stage. It wasn’t just the physicality, as the teams combined for 11 goals and a wild final 25 minutes of hockey.
The Blueshirts came back from a pair of two-goal deficits to get the point in regulation, showing they aren’t just going to go down without a fight after the trade of their heart and soul. No, instead it was Brady Skjei carrying the torch, scoring twice (three in the last two games). It was Jimmy Vesey having a strong game. It was the Lias Andersson-Filip Chytil-Pavel Buchnevich playing fun, even if flawed, hockey.
Rangers 1, Caps 0
It only took Kreider 21 seconds to score. pic.twitter.com/Wbz2rDGnyO
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 24, 2019
Mika Zibnejad leads the rush, and Jimmy Vesey makes the best pass I’ve ever seen him make. Chris Kreider just needed to tap it in. There is no defensive issue here from the Caps, everyone is covered. Just the breakout and passing was perfect.
Caps 1, Rangers 1
.@JohnCarlson74 faked everyone out with that pass. pic.twitter.com/0LUpftAgl8
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 24, 2019
It’s like the Rangers just kind of forgot Nicklas Backstrom was still there after the pass across to TJ Oshie. Three Rangers went to Oshie and Vesey kinda just watched Backstrom skate to the back door. John Carlson did make a great pass here too.
Caps 2, Rangers 1
That escalated quickly… #ALLCAPS #CapsRangers pic.twitter.com/PyxGq23YMe
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 24, 2019
That’s three Rangers along the boards, and none with the puck. Someone is going to be open, and that was Michal Kempny. Kempny fanned a bit on the shot, and Hank missed it.
Caps 3, Rangers 1
WHIP PPG! #ALLCAPS #CapsRangers pic.twitter.com/ZXxXCKYpHh
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 24, 2019
This is a set play from the Caps here after the faceoff win on the powerplay. Brady Skjei bit on Lars Eller at the boards, which opened the lane to Jakub Vrana low. That forces Fredrik Claesson to cover for Skjei, but it’s not in time in a bang-bang to Wilson for the goal.
Caps 3, Rangers 2
Skjei did a good job recovering the puck here and then keeping possession. His wrister from the point eluded everyone apparently.
Rangers 3, Caps 3
The Caps turned the puck over courtesy of Brady Skjei, and Jimmy Vesey ripped the loose puck on net from the point, and I guess Copley missed it or didn’t see it.
Caps 4, Rangers 3
Look what Dowder found in front. #ALLCAPS #CapsRangers pic.twitter.com/X3aqspjtgp
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 24, 2019
Filip Chytil and Pavel Buchnevich watched Nic Dowd go to the front without picking him up. That is a learning experience for them.
Caps 5, Rangers 3
Backy….. SNIPE! #ALLCAPS #CapsRangers pic.twitter.com/q75NhmltmZ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 24, 2019
Three Rangers go to Vrana and no one could get the puck from him. The puck is left for Backstrom and he has all day to tee it up.
Caps 5, Rangers 4
Neal Pionk’s shot hit off Vlad Namestnikov’s skate and beat Copley. Not much else on this one.
Rangers 5, Caps 5
.@BradySkjei ties the game with the goalie pulled. pic.twitter.com/vhzwI0CV7f
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 24, 2019
What a third period this was. With the extra skater, Skjei gets a shot from the point that goes off old friend Carl Hagelin’s stick and by Copley.
Caps 6, Rangers 5
MAYHEM! #ALLCAPS #CapsRangers pic.twitter.com/nRr9MgWeCP
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 24, 2019
What an overtime. But eventually the Caps caught Skjei out there tired and injured. Eventually Evgeni Kuznetsov was able to find the puck on the goal line after a broken play.
Shot Heatmap
All the shots from everywhere, especially in front.
Give me 20 more games like this, and I’ll be happy. This was pure entertainment for me. I haven’t jumped off the couch for a goal in a while, and that tying goal did it for me. For the tankers, the losses will come. Enjoy this one.
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