Five-game winning streak comes to end vs. Capitals

2011-12 Game No. 35; Road Game No. 19	Rangers' Record: 22-9-4
VIDEO: TORTORELLA POSTGAME
• Full Highlights | Highlight of Game		• Biron, Boyle Postgame

GAME RECAP Associated Press Alexander Semin scored twice, Troy Brouwer tallied the tiebreaking goal midway through the second period, and the Washington Capitals halted the Rangers' five-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night. With the game tied 1-1, Brouwer got tangled with defenseman Ryan McDonagh in front of the Blueshirts net. Brouwer not only screened goalie Martin Biron but redirected John Carlson's drive from the left point for his 10th goal of the season at 10:24. Marcus Johansson also scored for the Capitals, who snapped a two-game skid by beating the top team in the Eastern Conference. Alex Ovechkin had two assists. Brandon Dubinsky scored for the Rangers, 7-3 in their last 10 games. Marian Gaborik, tied for the NHL lead with 22 goals, had his run of five straight games with a goal stopped. Tomas Vokoun made 31 saves for the victory. Johansson gave Washington a 1-0 lead 8:18 in, but the Rangers used a fortuitous bounce to tie it at 17:16. After Rangers captain Ryan Callahan dived to block Carlson's shot, the puck squirted up the ice -- setting up Dubinsky to beat Vokoun on a 2-on-1 break. Under three minutes after Brouwer's redirect put the Capitals ahead, Ovechkin's hard check in the neutral zone knocked the puck loose from Brad Richards. Nicklas Backstrom got to it, and his shovel pass sprung Semin, who got a step on a defender and converted a back-hander for a 3-1 Capitals lead. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME The Rangers held Washington scoreless in two shorthanded situations (a total of 4:00), and have held opponents scoreless in eight of their last 11 games (30-for-34, 88.2 percent) while tallying four shorthanded goals during the stretch. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Callahan 2. Anisimov 3. McDonagh

---

THE BIGGER PICTURE The reason this team has reached the top of its division is because through the first 35 games, losses like this one have been like mini wake-up calls. Look for another emphatic bounceback effort at Florida on Friday before the NHL Winter Classic at Philadelphia.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- McDonagh (25:17) Shots -- Four players tied (4) Hits -- Callahan (5) Blocks -- Callahan (4) Takeaways -- McDonagh (1) Faceoffs -- Boyle (12)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP AT WASHINGTON
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Artem Anisimov	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Carl Hagelin	Brad Richards	Ryan Callahan
Brandon Dubinsky	Brian Boyle	John Mitchell
Ruslan Fedotenko	Mike Rupp	Brandon Prust

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman
Jeff Woywitka	Stu Bickel
Goaltenders: Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist Starting Lineup: Biron, McDonagh, Girardi, Dubinsky, Boyle, Mitchell.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Artem Anisimov	Derek Stepan	Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky	Mitchell/Boyle	Ryan Callahan

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Brad Richards
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Ryan Callahan	Brandon Dubinsky
Ruslan Fedotenko	Artem Anisimov
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman