Capitals at Rangers
It took the Washington Capitals more than a month to post back-to-back victories and now the reigning Stanley Cup champions are on their longest winning streak of the season as they prepare to open a two-game road trip at the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon. The Capitals have won four in a row overall and three straight against the Rangers.
Washington captain Alex Ovechkin scored one goal - his 16th - and set up another to give him four tallies during the four-game win streak. Ovechkin also scored twice in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Rangers on Oct. 17 as the Capitals extended their point streak against New York to seven games (6-0-1). The Rangers were on a tear of their own before they were blanked 4-0 in Philadelphia on Friday to fall to 9-2-1 in their last 12. "We really didn’t have our legs, from the get-go, and over 82 games you’re going to have stinkers," New York coach David Quinn told reporters. "But at the end of the day, we got what we deserved."
TV: 2 p.m. ET, NHL Network, NBCS Washington, MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE RANGERS (12-9-2): New York surrendered a combined three goals during a perfect three-game homestand before it absorbed its first shutout of the season against the Flyers. "It's going to be hard for us to score some goals some nights," goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who made 42 saves Friday and had allowed one goal with 5 1/2 minutes to play, told reporters. "We were right there, so try to learn from that I think and get ready for (Saturday)." Lundqvist could get the call again Saturday - he also played both ends of a back-to-back against Colorado and Washington last month.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (12-7-3): Cantankerous forward Tom Wilson missed the first 16 games while serving a suspension for an illegal hit to the head in the preseason, but has three goals and five assists in six games since his return. "Right now you can see he's kind of like Eric Lindros. He can play hard, score goals, make a good assist," Ovechkin told reporters. "I think he's realized that the game of hockey, it's not about hitting people. It's about making plays, and if you have a chance to hit, why not?" Coach Todd Reirden said Pheonix Copley will likely start in net Saturday.
OVERTIME
1. Ovechkin has 24 goals against Lundqvist, his highest total against any goaltender.
2. New York has won seven in a row at home, last losing at Madison Square Garden to Calgary on Oct. 21.
3. Capitals Fs Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie have each sat out four games. Oshie did not accompany the team to New York.