Rangers fall to Caps in regular-season finale at home

2011-12 Game No. 82; Home Game No. 41	Rangers' Record: 51-24-7
VIDEO: TORTORELLA POSTGAME
• Full Highlights | Highlight of the Game		• Callahan, Richards, Lundqvist Postgame

GAME RECAP Associated Press Washington scored three first-period goals and third-string goaltender Braden Holtby made 35 saves Saturday night to help the Capitals beat the Rangers 4-1, spoiling the Blueshirts' chance to clinch the Presidents' Trophy. Despite the loss, Rangers head coach John Tortorella chose instead to focus on myriad positives for the Rangers (51-24-7), who finished with 109 points for the third time in franchise history and placed second to Vancouver for the league's top spot. "I'm glad the 82 games are done because now is when the real stuff starts," said Tortorella, who coached Tampa Bay to the Stanley Cup in 2004. "I am really excited and I know our guys are too. Our team will be ready to play." The Rangers will host the Ottawa Senators in the opening round of the playoffs, the first time since 1996 that they will have home ice in a postseason series. The Capitals quieted The Garden crowd quickly as Alex Ovechkin and Mathieu Perreault scored on Washington's first two shots against Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Washington (42-32-8) finished with 92 points and will be the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals will face the defending champion Boston Bruins in the opening round. Brian Boyle scored for the Blueshirts with 7:16 left in the second on a wraparound past Holtby. It was Boyle's 11th of the season. "It's been a fun year, but I hope, and everyone else hopes, the best is yet to come," said Lundqvist. "It will be exciting." • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STATS OF THE GAME The Rangers posted a record of 51-24-7 (109 pts) overall, including a 27-12-2 mark at home and a 24-12-5 mark on the road. The Rangers’ 51 wins rank second in franchise history, while their 109 are points tied for second all-time. The Blueshirts also tied the team record with 24 road wins. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Boyle 2. Staal 3. Del Zotto

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THE BIGGER PICTURE The outcome of this game really wasn't the issue. Finding out who the Rangers will play in the first round of the playoffs was. Given a choice between Ottawa and the Washington team of Saturday night, they likely got the more favorable opponent.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Staal (23:56) Shots -- Gaborik (6) Hits -- Del Zotto (5) Blocks -- Staal (6) Takeaways -- Three players tied (1) Faceoffs -- Richards (17)

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

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Marc Staal	Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto	Stu Bickel
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqivst, Staal, Stralman, Anisimov, Stepan, Callahan.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Ryan Callahan	Brad Richards	Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky	Brian Boyle	Artem Anisimov

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Derek Stepan
McDonagh/Stralman	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Ryan Callahan	Derek Stepan
Carl Hagelin	Artem Anisimov

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