When the Washington Capitals host the New York Rangers on Wednesday afternoon, it will have a familiar feel.
The Rangers beat the Capitals 7-3 in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 23 in the final game for both teams before the three-day holiday break.
That was the last time New York won. The Rangers have lost three of their last four (1-2-1).
Their latest loss was 3-2 in overtime vs. the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday in a game they led 2-1 in the middle of the third period.
“You’ve got to close out games in this league,” said the Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck, who had two goals and an assist in last week’s game vs. Washington.
The Hurricanes tied the game 9:11 into the third on a goal that went in off the skate of Carolina’s Jordan Martinook.
“The goal that goes in is just a battle in front. It goes in off a leg,” Trocheck said.
The OT winner for the Hurricanes came on Jackson Blake’s power-play goal with 13 seconds left in the extra period.
“I thought we competed hard,” New York coach Mike Sullivan said. “Five-on-five, we had our moments. We had some offensive zone time. Obviously, the difference in the game, we give up a 5-on-3 and a 4-on-3 (goal). You can’t put yourself down in those circumstances. That puts us in tough spots.”
Vladislav Gavrikov and Jonny Brodzinski scored for the Rangers. Brodzinski has two goals and two assists in his last four games.
Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves.
After Wednesday’s game, New York will head to Miami to play the Florida Panthers in the NHL’s annual Winter Classic outdoor contest on Friday evening at the home of MLB’s Miami Marlins.
The Capitals have also struggled recently, losing four of their last five (1-3-1).
Washington also blew a lead on Monday night in a 5-3 road to the Panthers after leading 3-2 early in the third period.
“I thought we put ourselves in a good spot going into the third period to find a way to not only get points in the game but to win it,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “I thought we were right there. Just a few plays on both sides of the puck, offensively and defensively, that go the other way and we end up on the short end of it.”
The Capitals took a 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the game on Tom Wilson’s first of two goals. He also added an assist on Washington’s go-ahead goal 3:11 into the third.
“We played well, two teams that play a similar style. It’s hard hockey, big-boy hockey,” Wilson said. “We just didn’t generate enough in the offensive zone. … The effort was there, the guys were competing and it was a fun hockey game but a frustrating one.”
Dylan Strome — who scored in last week’s win over New York — also had a three-point night for Washington with a goal and two assists. Logan Thompson made 24 saves.
Wilson leads the team with 19 goals and 37 points in 38 games.
Three other Capitals have also reached 30 points this season. Alex Ovechkin has 15 goals and 33 points in 39 games, Strome has 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) in 37 games and defenseman Jakob Chychrun has tallied 15 goals and 30 points in 39 contests.
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