Capitals Drop Third Straight

The Washington Capitals lost for the third straight time on Day 43, falling 5-3 to the New York Rangers at MSG. The loss dropped Washington to 11th in the Wales Conference at 8-12-3.

New York jumped out to 2-0 lead in the opening period with goals just 1:01 apart. Prucha started it off from Neckar and Backer at 5:36, before Alfredsson scored his 14th of the season from Ribeiro and Dumont at 6:37. The Caps got on the board with 5:02 left in the action. Patrick Marleau was the scorer from Rob Blake and Todd Warriner.

Washington tied the game early in the second period when Mikael Renberg scored his first of the season from Ziggy Palffy and Blake at 3:59. The Rangers answered with a pair of goals to take a 4-2 lead to the intermission. Redden made it 3-2 from Sundin and Lundqvist on the power play at 14:17. Pilar extended the lead to two goals from Alfredsson and Eminger at 18:57.

The Capitals pulled within one midway through the final period on a power play marker from Jonathan Cheechoo. Oleg Saprykin and Mark Eaton assisted on the goal at 11:18. Lukowich ended any hopes of a Washington comeback when he scored his first of the season from Alfredsson and Eminger at 13:17.

Manny Legace made 18 saves in the loss and fell to 4-8-3. Kevin Weekes stopped four shots in relief. Mike Dunham made 27 saves in the win for the Rangers.

The Capitals continue its road trip in Calgary on Day 44.