Alex Ovechkin scored twice Tuesday and the Caps more than doubled up Metropolitan Division rival Rangers in shots for a 5-3 victory at Capital One Arena.
Ovechkin continued his path to the NHL goal record by scoring twice in the first period, as he now has 857 career goals, needing only 38 more to pass Wayne Gretzky.
A long-awaited fight happened as Dylan McIlrath fought and bloodied Matt Rempe, who injured Trevor van Riemsdyk and Beck Malenstyn during last season’s playoffs. McIlrath and Rempe also fought in the AHL back in November 2022.
New dad Connor McMichael deflected the puck in off a Taylor Raddysh shot for Washington’s third goal, while Aliaksei Protas scored on the 4-on-4 in the middle frame. Protas also had two assists.
The Rangers stayed in the game with tallies from Will Cuylle, Chris Kreider (on the power play), and Filip Chytil.
The Caps also had four power play opportunities but missed on all of them, as they are now 0-for-21 on the man advantage over their last six games.
Nevertheless, Washington outshot New York 46-19 and were up by one until Nic Dowd shot the puck in the empty net in the final minute to seal it.
