Capitals Tie Rangers

The Washington Capitals earned at least a point in its third straight game on Day 109 in a 4-4 tie with the New York Rangers. Washington is now 19-26-9 for the season. The two teams will meet again on Day 111 in the second half of the home and home series.

New York jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of goals from Ponikarovsky. Spiller and Lukowich assisted on the first at 7:29, before Blake and Lukowich earned the helpers on the second at 13:20. Washington battled back with two goals of its own in a 20 second span to tie the game. Frantisek Lukes made it 2-1 from Dan Boyle at 15:08, and Artem Chubarov tied the game from Lukes and Radoslav Suchy at 15:28.

The Capitals took its first lead of the game late in the second period when Bryan Berard netted from Patrick Marleau and Mikael Renberg at 16:53. The teams combined for 20 shots in the second, but Berard's marker was the only one of the middle stanza.

Trailing 3-2, the Rangers once again came out quickly and tied the game after just 5:44 on Bure's 28th goal of the season. Ribeiro and Dumot assisted on the goal. Just less than 10 minutes later New York took a 4-3 lead when Knutsen tallied from Pyatt and Dvorak at 15:35. Washington's backs were against the wall, but Berard saved the day with just 2:16 to play when he scored his second of the game and seventh of the season to make it 4-4. Mikael Renberg and Zigmund Palffy earned the helpers on the crucial goal.

Manny Legace stopped 27 shots for the Capitals, while Mike Dunham made 23 saves for the Rangers.

Washington returns to action on Day 111 in New York.