Rangers block Capitals path to fourth consecutive win in New York, NY on February 17, 2013.
Photo © Kathy Willens / AP Photo.
Photo © Kathy Willens / AP Photo.
Washington Capitals 1 Vs New York Rangers 2 = Road Game Loss
On Sunday - February 17, 2013, the Washington Capitals ended a three game winning streak, when they lost their game versus the New York Rangers. In what some may describe as a flat performance by both hockey teams, the goaltenders for both teams might be the only players deserving any praise.
Just over a minute into the game, Washington defenseman John Carlson scored the lone Capitals goal. New York had trouble clearing the puck from their end of the ice. Eventually, it ended up on the stick of winger Eric Fehr, who sent a pass out to Mike Rebeiro (C) from below the goal line. Rebeiro slid the puck over to Carlson at the point, who collected it, and then fired a slap shot into the back of the net. When your team scores that early in a game, it sometimes gives you false hope.
The Rangers scored one goal in each of the other two periods. Carl Hagelin (LW) just barely eluded defenseman Tom Poti, and deflected a shot in during the second period. Then, in the third, John Carlson totally missed his defensive assignment during a penalty kill. Center Derek Stepan was left sitting by the goal cage during the Rangers power-play, all by himself. The puck eventually came to him, while Braden Holtby (G) was protecting the opposite end of the goal mouth, and he easily deposited the puck.
Holtby might have been a tiny bit slow to react, but he was nearly perfect the rest of the game. Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist (G) wasn't making life easy for Washington at the other end of the ice. The Capitals, on the other hand, didn't make things as difficult for Lundqvist as the the Rangers were doing to Holtby.
Washington managed a few good scoring chances after their one goal, but couldn't finish, and were outshot 40 to 28. At the same time, their recently mildly powerful power-play was powerless. Meanwhile, some of the guys who have been producing offense for the Caps, spent some time in the penalty box instead. When you're a man down, it's hard to gain zone time and make shots.
Washington had better get back into another winning streak, and make that a real habit, real soon. They have the least amount of points in their conference, and the second least in the entire league. Other teams that had started off poorly, like the Capitals, are now staying ahead in the standings.
Caps Postgame Locker Room 02/17/13: Caps players Joel Ward, Troy Brouwer, John Carlson, Braden Holtby, Nicklas Backstrom and Wojtek Wolski address the media after a 2-1 loss against the New York Rangers.
Adam Oates Postgame 02/17/13: Caps head coach Adam Oates addresses the media after a 2-1 loss against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
No comments:
Post a Comment