WASHINGTON — There was a lot of emotion following this one, more than could have been expected for a game in early December. But it was understandable after the way the Rangers squandered a comeback and ultimately lost, 4-2, to the Capitals on Friday night at Capital One Arena.
“It’s disappointing, extremely disappointing,” said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who returned from a one-game absence because of illness and was terrific in making 36 saves, but gave up two goals in the final four minutes of regulation that did the Rangers in.
And Lundqvist was not the only one who was disappointed, as the Rangers (15-11-2) came back from giving up a goal on the first shot of the game — again — and a 2-0 second-period deficit to tie it, 2-2, pushing for an important divisional victory late in the third period. But the Capitals (18-11-1) were able to take advantage of one of a handful of costly Rangers mistakes, a turnover and a lost battle in front that resulted in Matt Niskanen being able to bang in a loose puck to give his team a 3-2 lead with 3:32 remaining.
“We’ve got a control breakout, control situation. We know what their control forecheck is going to be. One of our guys doesn’t do the right route,” coach Alain Vigneault said, referring to rookie Boo Nieves flying up the right boards and missing a outlet from Kevin Shattenkirk. “Turnover, and turnover ends up in the back of our net. Unfortunately, it’s something that we didn’t do as well as we should have and it cost us.”
It was one small play that added up to a big loss. It made all that hard work the Rangers had done to tie the score evaporate, and Tom Wilson poured salt in the wound when he was able to deftly skate round Ryan McDonagh and get a lucky bounce to beat Lundqvist and make it 4-2 with just 1:32 remaining.
“It stings right now,” McDonagh said. “We worked hard to climb back in it, but let them make plays and they burned us.”
Despite a lot of good things in the middle of the game, this was still an uneven performance from the Rangers, who had won six of their past seven and 12 of their past 15 to get this season back on stable ground. It started early, when Jay Beagle scored 14 seconds into the game, the fourth time this season the Rangers and Lundqvist had given up a goal on the first shot — to go along with one time on the second shot and three times on the third shot.
Asked if he could have done anything different, Lundqvist shrugged and said, “Stop it. Obviously not ideal, but you just have to battle.I felt really sharp, it just sucks to give up four goals, especially two late.”
The Capitals have won four in a row, and it’s clear why as they were incredibly opportunistic, extending the lead to 2-0 at 11:42 of the second when an errant Michael Grabner pass landed at the feet of Mats Zuccarello, and Nicklas Backstrom was able to walk in along and beat Lundqvist’s glove with a quick wrist shot.
“When they turn it up,” Lundqvist said, “they’re a good team.”
But the Rangers fought, with Grabner getting his team-leading 14th of the season by beating Braden Holtby with just 57 seconds left in the second period. Jesper Fast tied it, the fourth line producing offense again, when he snapped a one-timer into the top corner at 9:37 of the third.
It all wasn’t enough. In a division that is so tight with six teams bunched together, it’s the small things that are going to be the difference between the playoffs and an early summer. The Rangers know that, and know they let one get away.
“We made one mistake too many in the third,” Vigneault said, “and it cost us.”