Oshie stars as Capitals win battle vs. Rangers

T.J. Oshie had a hat trick, Vitek Vanecek made 19 saves and the Washington Capitals beat the depleted New York Rangers 4-2 in a fight-filled game Wednesday night.

Oshie beat Alexandar Georgiev 12 seconds into the middle period with a shot from the right circle with Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich in the penalty box.

Oshie scored again at 8:26 of the second — again with Buchnevich penalized for a high-sticking major — his 20th goal of the season.

Nic Dowd also scored for Washington in the second, and Oshie, whose father died this week, completed his hat trick with an emptynet goal at 18:20 of the third.

Alexis Lafreniere ruined Vanecek’s shutout bid at 1:15 of the third period with his 11th goal of the season. Fellow rookie forward Morgan Barron scored his first NHL goal at 18:44 to complete the scoring.

The game featured 141 minutes in penalties, a follow-up to Monday’s game in which Washington forward Tom Wilson pummeled Rangers top scorer Artemi Panarin after Wilson had punched Buchnevich during a scrum near the Capitals’ net.

The Capitals moved into a first-place tie with idle Pittsburgh in the East Division. Washington has three games left while the Penguins have two.

Earlier in the day, the Rangers stunningly fired team president John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton and said former Ranger Chris Drury would take over both jobs.

BLUE JACKETS 4, PREDATORS 2 >> Mikhail Grigorenko scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and Columbus prevented Nashville from clinching a playoff spot.

LIGHTNING 6, STARS 2 >> Defenseman Erik Cernak had a goal and two assists to help Tampa Bay beat Dallas. The Stars remained alive for the final spot in the Central Division.

FLYER SUSPENDED >> Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere was suspended for two games without pay by the NHL for boarding Penguin Mark Friedman during Tuesday’s game.