Connolly’s goal gives Capitals win over Rangers
Brett Connolly scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:24 left in the third period, and the Washington Capitals beat the New York Rangers 5-3 Saturday in New York for their season-high fifth straight win.
Alex Ovechkin, Nic Dowd, Jakub Vrana and Tom Wilson also scored for defending Stanley Cup champion Washington, and John Carlson had three assists. Pheonix Copley, starting in place of Braden Holtby, stopped 27 shots.
Jimmy Vesey, Brady Skjei and Ryan Strome scored for the Rangers, who lost their second straight, ending a sevengame winning streak on home ice. Kevin Hayes had two assists and Alexandar Georgiev finished with 23 saves. Washington’s Brett Connolly is hugged by teammates after scoring during Saturday’s game against New York.
On the go-ahead goal, Connolly got a pass from Carlson and fired a one-timer from the left circle past Georgiev for his fourth of the season.
Wilson added an empty-netter with 1:08
left for his fourth. He has nine points in seven games since returning from a season-opening suspension that sidelined him for 16 games.
Strome had tied the score 3-3 at 5:30 of the final period with
his first goal with the Rangers since being acquired from Edmonton on Nov. 16. Brett Howden deflected Neal Pionk’s shot from the right point off his skate to Strome at the right side. Strome then skated around the back of the net and beat Copley with a wraparound.
Trailing 1-0, the Capitals came out with increased intensity in the second period and scored three goals while outshooting the Rangers 15-9.
Just 31 seconds after Skjei doubled the Rangers’ lead, Dowd tipped Carlson’s shot for his second to pull the Capitals back within one midway through the second.
BLACKHAWKS 5, PANTHERS 4, OT: SABRES 3, RED WINGS 2, SO: ISLANDERS 4, HURRICANES 1: JETS 8, BLUES 4: BRUINS 3, CANADIENS 2: MAPLE LEAFS 6, FLYERS 0: