Rangers wear down Caps for 2-1 win at The Garden

2013 Game No. 14; Home Game No. 9	Rangers' Record: 8-5-1
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GAME RECAP In one of their most complete efforts of the season the Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. They have now earned at least one point in each of their last five games, posting a 4-0-1 record in that stretch. Despite dominating nearly the entire game, the Rangers did not take their first lead until the 4:25 mark of the third period when Derek Stepan's power play goal lifted the Blueshirts to a 2-1 advantage. Stepan completed a pretty tic-tac-toe passing sequence which started with Rick Nash's quick pass to Brad Richards inside the blueline, continued as Richards zipped a cross-ice feed to Michael Del Zotto on right wing, and finished when Del Zotto alertly found Stepan open by the left post. That it took a near-perfect passing play for the Rangers to score against Braden Holtby was not surprising. Holtby, the Caps playoff hero who gave the Rangers fits last spring before New York eventually ousted Washington in seven games, was simply terrific Sunday night. In the midst of a middling season, so far, Holtby played perhaps his best 60 minutes of the season Sunday, stopping 38 of 40 Ranger shots. It took until the Rangers 30th shot on goal before they could dent Holtby. Perhaps not so surprisingly it was Carl Hagelin who finally got the Rangers on the scoreboard at the 7:39 mark of the second period. Hagelin deflected Ryan McDonagh's shot from straightaway past Holtby for his sixth goal of the season, extending his goal-scoring streak to four consecutive games. The Rangers lost the services of energetic forward Darroll Powe early in the second period after a violent, and accidental, center-ice collision with Washington's Matt Hendricks. He did not return, and there was no further update on his condition. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME The Rangers have posted a record of 18-3-2 in their last 23 games against Southeast Division opponents, including a 3-0-0 mark against the Southeast Division this season. The Blueshirts have out-scored their Southeast Division opponents, 77-46, over the span. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Hagelin 2. Nash 3. Stepan

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THE BIGGER PICTURE If you take away the surreal performance by Caps goalie Braden Holtby, the Rangers would have won this by four or five goals. This was the Rangers playing to their identity and playing the relentless style that they intend to employ on a nightly basis.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Del Zotto (24:17) Shots -- Nash (8) Hits -- Callahan (6) Blocks -- Callahan (6) Takeaways -- Three players tied (1) Faceoffs -- Stepan (20)

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP VS. WASHINGTON
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Carl Hagelin	Derek Stepan	Rick Nash
Marian Gaborik	Brad Richards	Ryan Callahan
J.T. Miller	Brian Boyle	Taylor Pyatt
Arron Asham	Jeff Halpern	Darroll Powe

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Marc Staal	Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto	Matt Gilroy
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Staal, Stralman, Hagelin, Stepan, Nash.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Carl Hagelin	Derek Stepan	Rick Nash
Marian Gaborik	J.T. Miller	Ryan Callahan

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Brad Richards	Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Ryan Callahan	Stepan/Halpern
Carl Hagelin	Brian Boyle

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