Strome, Kreider lead Rangers to 6-2 win over Bruins

NEW YORK (AP) Ryan Strome had a goal and two assists and Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist in New York's three-goal second period, leading the Rangers to a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Friday night.

Julian Gauthier, Colin Blackwell, Pavel Buchnevich and Jonny Brodzinski also scored to help the Rangers get their third win in four games. Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren each had two assists, and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 31 shots to improve to 2-0-2 in his last four starts.

''I really liked an awful lot about our game tonight,'' Rangers coach David Quinn said. ''We were ready to play from the drop of the puck. We had all four lines going, our D corps played well and our goalie played well. It was truly a team effort.''

With fans back at Madison Square Garden for the first time this season, the Rangers beat Bruins for the first time in three meetings. Boston was 5-0-1 in the previous six games with the Rangers.

After the game, the Rangers gathered at center-ice to salute the 1,800 fans in attendance before skating off. Several players gave their sticks to some of the fans.

''It felt like it was pretty full,'' Strome said of the fans' return. ''I had some goosebumps in the national anthem. Has been a while since I felt those. They definitely brought us energy. ... It was great, sound-wise and visually, just seeing people and seeing people cheer. Just a little more excitement and buzz. It was awesome.''

Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist, Patrice Bergeron also scored and David Pastrnak had two assists for Boston. Tuukka Rask finished with 28 saves in the Bruins' fourth loss in five games.

The Bruins, who lost 7-2 at the New York Islanders on Thursday night, had not given up more than four goals in their first 16 games.

''Hockey is about making sure we stay together as a team when things are up or when things are down,'' Bergeron said. ''It's about figuring out as fast as you can things you can get better at and right now it's obviously our 5-on-5 play defensively and giving up easy plays.''

The teams play again in New York on Sunday to complete a two-game series.

With Boston trailing 1-0, Jack Studnicka nearly tied the score early in the second period with a shot that hit off the crossbar.

The Rangers doubled the lead shortly after that. On a rush, Alexis Lafreniere sent a cross-ice pass to Strome, who tapped it in past Rask from the right side for his sixth at 2:32. Lafreniere, the top overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, got his first career assist.

Bergeron pulled the Bruins to 2-1 just 90 seconds later, scoring from the right doorstep off Pastrnak's pass from the left circle.

Charlie Coyle hit a goal post on a Bruins power play with about 6:50 left.

Blackwell tipped Adam Fox's one-timer from the point on a power play to push the lead to 3-1 with 1:08 remaining in the second. It was Blackwell's third goal in five games.

Kreider gave the Rangers a three-goal lead just 12 seconds later as his shot from a sharp angle deflected off Coyle's left skate and past Rask for his ninth. Kreider, who had his third career hat trick against Philadelphia on Tuesday night, scored for the third straight game.

''They get that one to make it 2-1, I thought they were coming,'' Quinn said. ''We had some lucky breaks on the penalty-kill, we get the huge power-play goal and Kreids gets that goal right away.''

Buchnevich made it 5-1 on a tip-in 1:45 into the third, and Brodzinski got his first with the Rangers as he scored on a diving tip of a pass from Kevin Rooney at 3:43.

Marchand got the Bruins within four as he swooped in and knocked in the rebound of Pastrnak's shot at 7:51 for his 10th. It was Marchand's 300th career goal.

Gauthier got the Rangers on the scoreboard with 6:44 left in the first, firing a shot from the left circle between a screened Rask and the left post for his second career goal.

STREAKS

Kreider, who had his third career hat trick against Philadelphia on Tuesday night, scored for the third straight game. He has five goals and an assist in that stretch. ... Strome extended his point streak to four games.

POWER PLAYS

The Bruins are 3 for 21 on the power play over their last eight games after going 12 for 34 over the first 10.

The Rangers scored a power-play goal for the fourth straight game, going 5 for 19 over that stretch. They were 2 for 31 over their previous 10 games.

MOVING UP

Bergeron's goal gave him 889 career points, breaking a tie with Bobby Orr to take over sole possession of fifth place on the Bruins' franchise list.

McAvoy, Rask lead Bruins to 4-1 win over Rangers

NEW YORK (AP) Charlie McAvoy had a goal and an assist, leading the Boston Bruins to a 4-1 win against the New York Rangers on Sunday.

Tuukka Rask made 20 saves and earned his 299th NHL victory. Charlie Coyle scored twice and David Pastrnak added two assists as the Bruins snapped a two-game skid. Trent Frederic also scored for Boston.

Alexandar Georgiev made 31 saves, but the Rangers fell for the second time in three games. Colin Blackwell scored for New York.

''Really happy with how the team played today,'' McAvoy said. ''We stuck together, kind of felt like a must-win. We are not comfortable dropping games. ... We wanted to fix this road trip and at least finish on a high note.''

McAvoy hammered a one-timer to push the Bruins' lead to 3-0 at 10:20 of the second period. Pastrnak and Brad Marchand assisted on the play.

''Even though I thought we played structurally sound, they took it to us and we didn't match their effort 100 percent,'' Blackwell said. ''We didn't quite get to the inside enough, take away the goalie's eyes. The ice was tilted a lot.''

The Bruins and Rangers have met four times in the month of February this season, all at MSG. The teams are scheduled to play four more times at TD Garden in Boston during this abbreviated 56-game season with revamped divisions because of COVID-19.

Coyle opened the scoring at 6:41 of the first period with a deft wrist shot from inside the left faceoff circle. Pastrnak's leading pass allowed Coyle to enter the offensive zone with speed and get by Rangers rookie defenseman K'Andre Miller. McAvoy earned the secondary assist on the play.

''That's Bruins hockey for us,'' Coyle said. ''You can see it every shift, guys doing their job, playing their role. That all plays into our identity and that's huge. It's fun to play that way, it's fun to get this result.''

Before Coyle's goal, Georgiev sustained a cut above his left eye following a collision with Bruins forward Nick Ritchie. Igor Shesterkin replaced Georgiev after the goal for the remainder of the first period. Georgiev returned for the second period and finished the game.

Frederic extended the Bruins' lead to 2-0 late in the first period when he redirected a puck past Shesterkin. Connor Clifton and Jack Studnicka assisted on the goal at 18:14 of the opening period.

''He is starting to annoy people, he is a big body that can back it up,'' Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said about Frederic. ''We are seeing growth in his game. ... You need players like that, it's a long year and you need energy in different ways.''

Blackwell spoiled Rask's shutout bid at 10:47 of the third period. Alexis Lafreniere, the first overall selection of the 2020 draft, picked up his second career assist in as many games on the play.

''We just didn't match the effort they brought,'' Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith said. ''We knew they were going to come because of what has happened in the last two games and we didn't respond as well as we should have. That's something we have to address in the room.''

Coyle added a short-handed empty-net goal at 18:05 to seal the victory for the Bruins.

POWER PLAY STRUGGLES

The Bruins are 3 for 22 on the man advantage over their past nine games after going 12 for 34 over the first 10.

LEARNING CURVE

The Bruins dressed four rookies on Sunday, including Frederic, Studnicka, Jakub Zboril and Urho Vaakanainen.

SHORT-HANDED STRENGTH

New York did not allow a shot on goal during the Bruins' only power play Sunday. The Rangers have not allowed a power- play goal in 10 of their past 12 games.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Host Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

Rangers: Host Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.

Buchnevich, Shesterkin lead Rangers to 3-2 win over Sabres

NEW YORK (AP) Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and an assist, Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 shots and the New York Rangers beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 Tuesday night.

Chris Kreider and Alexis Lafreniere also scored for the Rangers, and Adam Fox had two assists. New York won for the fourth time in six games.

''Good to have a win today,'' Buchnevich said. ''We'll take two points and keep it going.''

Shesterkin made eight saves in the first period, nine in the second and five in the third to beat the Sabres for the second time and improve to 5-7-1 on the season.

''In the first period it wasn't a great thing the first shot went in, but guys rallied and helped me out and we took care of business the rest of the game,'' Shesterkin said through a translator.

Sam Reinhart and Tobias Rieder scored for Buffalo, which has lost four straight (0-3-1) and nine of 11 (2-8-1). Carter Hutton finished with 16 saves and fell to 1-6-1 this year.

''It was a very strong defensive game,'' Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. ''Our offense, our power play just didn't do what it should have done with the opportunity on the table, but we really neutralized them well.''

Neither team had a lot of chances in the third period. The Rangers managed just three shots on goal over the first 10 minutes, while the Sabres had two.

Buffalo pulled Hutton for an extra skater with about 1:40 remaining, but couldn't get the tying goal.

''We kind of had a bend, don't break (mentality) and got the win,'' Fox said. ''They were in our zone, but not too many Grade-A (chances). When they did, Shesty came up big for us.''

Kreider made it 3-1 at 9:32 of the second as he brought the puck along the left side and, with defenseman Brandon Montour on him, fired a shot from above the left circle that beat Hutton up high for his 10th goal.

Rieder pulled the Sabres back within one as his shot from inside the blue line went through traffic and past Shesterkin with 3:39 left in the middle period for this fourth. It was his first goal since Jan. 30 against New Jersey.

''We were lucky to get out of there up 3-2,'' Rangers coach David Quinn said. ''We did some better things in the third to give ourselves a chance to win.''

Buchnevich got the Rangers on the scoreboard 28 seconds in. He took a long pass from Mika Zibanejad, skated in while fighting off a defender and beat Hutton. It was Buchnevich's sixth of the season and third in the last seven games.

Reinhart tied it for the Sabres only 27 seconds later. Victor Olofsson chased down the puck on the right side and sent a pass across to Reinhart, who quickly put it past Shesterkin for his eighth.

The Rangers went back ahead at 2:36. After Zibanejad forced a turnover near the right corner, Buchnevich got the puck, skated across to the left side and sent a shot at the net. The puck hit off Lafreniere's right leg and in for the rookie's third goal.

''I think we played well,'' Buchnevich said of his line. ''Hope we keep producing offense for our team and we keep winning.''

HEATING UP

Kreider has six goals and an assist in his last five games. ... Buchnevich has seven points in the last seven games. ... Fox has five assists in the last four games. ... Ryan Lindgren had an assist on Kreider's second-period goal, giving the young defenseman five assists in his last five games.

Reinhart got his fifth goal in seven games and has nine points in the last 10.

GETTING ON THE SCOREBOARD

Reinhart's goal was Buffalo's first since he got the tying score in the third period of a 4-3 overtime loss against New Jersey last Thursday. The Sabres were coming off consecutive 3-0 losses to Philadelphia last weekend.

MILESTONE

New York defenseman Brendan Smith appeared in his 200th game with the Rangers, and is nine away from reaching 500 for his career.

SCHEDULING QUIRK

The Rangers play 13 of their next 17 games on the road over a 31-day stretch. After that, they don't leave the New York area from April 6 to May 5, with nine of 15 at home and road games against the Islanders (four) and New Jersey (two).

UP NEXT

Sabres: At the New York Islanders on Thursday night to open a three-game series.

Rangers: At New Jersey on Thursday night to begin a six-game trip with two-game series against the Devils, Penguins and Bruins.

New York Rangers Sign Braden Schneider to Entry-Level Contract

The 19th overall pick has been signed to a 3 year entry-level contract.

Kreider's 2nd hat trick in 5 games lifts Rangers past Devils

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider is so hot these days, even shots that go off his body are finding their way into the net.

The only spoiler in his second hat trick in five games was a scary leg injury that led to goaltender Igor Shesterkin being helped off the ice late in the third period.

Kreider extended his goal-scoring binge to nine in the last six games and the Rangers beat the slumping New Jersey Devils 6-1 on Thursday night.

''The numbers speak for themselves,'' said Rangers coach David Quinn, who team has been without top forward Artemi Panarin for five games. ''So, you know, he's is a vocal leader. He's playing physical. He's playing hard at both ends and getting rewarded with some timely goals. It could not come at a better time for our team.''

Kreider, who scored three in a loss to Philadelphia on Feb. 24, has 13 goals overall. He completed his natural hat trick 23 seconds into the final period after scoring twice in the second. His fourth career hat trick came on five shots.

Shesterkin seemed to hurt his right leg with just under six minutes to play when he stretched to stop a 2-on-1 break and shot by Damon Severson. He went down without contact and had to helped off the ice, dragging the leg.

Quinn didn't have an update on the goaltender's injury after the game, except to say it was lower body. Alexandar Georgiev finished the game.

Shesterkin kept the Rangers in the game in the first period by stopping 13 of 14 shots. He finished with 32 saves in helping the Rangers win their second straight and their fifth in seven.

Pavel Buchnevich, Brendan Smith and Alexis Lafreniere also scored for New York.

Jack Hughes scored early for the Devils, who have lost four straight and seven of eight. It was his third goal against New York in as many games. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 11 of 15 shots before being lifted. Aaron Dell finished up.

Kreider tied the game at 8:58 on a great power-play rush. In quick succession. Adam Fox, Buchnevich and Ryan Strome connected on up-ice passes with Strome finding Kreider alone in front.

''Listen, the guy is hot, you get them the puck, and he's obviously feeling it,'' Strome said. ''He's got timely goals, big goals. And, you know, there's such a short season that these games are so important and moments like that and plays like that from a veteran player lift everyone up. He was great tonight.''

Kreider didn't even get his stick on his next goal. A point shot by Ryan Lindgren bounced off his body into the net. The big winger made it 3-1 with an shot into the top of the net on an odd man rush.

Most of his goals lately have been scored from his office in front of the net.

''I think that's something that I was harped on early on in my career,'' Kreider said. ''A simple, simple job. Not always, not always super easy when you're battling a front, but relatively simple. It takes a lot of hard work from the guys you're playing with and a willingness to get pucks there. I'm just trying to stick around the front of the net and it's working for us right now. ''

After playing a great first period, the Devils were not the same team the final 40 minutes.

''Right now we just have to find a way to get a win and we have to really bear down, we have to pay a price, we're not going to get an easy goal or hope for bounces, we can't hope for a play,'' veteran Travis Zajac said. ''We just have to go in and really earn it for 60 minutes.''

RANGERS REINFORCEMENTS

Forward Kaapo Kakko and defenseman Jacob Trouba took part in the morning skate and coach David Quinn said both are close to returning to the lineup.

Including Thursday, Kakko has missed the last six games because of the COVID-19 protocol. Trouba has missed seven games with a broken thumb.

Forward Artemi Panarin is also closer to returning, Quinn said. The Russian has missed five games while on a leave of absence after a Russian tabloid printed allegations from a former coach that he attacked an 18-year-old woman in Latvia in 2011.

NOTES: Vatanen got his first point in nine games with assist on Hughes' goal. ... New Jersey had not given up a power-play goal in its last three games before Kreider connected. Lafreniere has goals in two straight.

UP NEXT

Rangers: This was the start of a six-game trip, which would be tied for the ninth-longest stretch of consecutive road games in franchise history.

Mark Pavelich, a member of the "Miracle on Ice" USA Hockey team, was found dead on Thursday morning at a mental health treatment center, the Star Tribune reports. He was 63.

USA Hockey confirmed Pavelich's death on Friday:

Pavelich also assisted on a game-tying goal in the last minute of Team USA's first game against Sweden, another favorite at the 1980 Olympics.

After winning the gold medal with a victory over Finland, Pavelich would go onto a professional career that included seven seasons in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks. The forward recorded 133 goals and 185 assists over that span.

Rolling Rangers sweep Devils, hand NJ 5th straight loss

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Ryan Strome scored twice and the streaking New York Rangers beat the Devils 6-3 Saturday, sending New Jersey to its fifth straight loss and eighth in nine games.

Adam Fox Kevin Rooney Libor Hajek and Filip Chytil also scored as the Rangers won their season-high third straight and sixth in eight games.

''If you're going to have a chance, you've got to string together wins,'' coach David Quinn said. ''You got to go on some sort of streak and some sort of run. We really hadn't done that up to this point. We're creeping up on the halfway point of the season so our guys realize what's in front of us. They realize that with each passing day, you want to continue to gain momentum and continue to move forward.''

Alexandar Georgiev had 24 saves while filling in for the injured Igor Shesterkin, who sustained a groin injury in a 6-1 win over New Jersey Thursday night.

P.K. Subban and Mikhail Maltsev scored in a 17-second first-period span to give the slumping Devils some hope after falling behind 2-0.

The hope lasted less than two minutes. Rooney, a former Devil who signed with New York this season, capped a 2-on-1 with Chytil flipping a cross-ice pass over Mackenzie Blackwood for a 3-2 lead.

Hajek stretched the lead to two goals 65 seconds in the second period with a short that deflected off Devils forward Janne Kuokkanen. It was his first point of the season and first goal since getting his first in the NHL against New Jersey on Mar. 9, 2019.

Chytil scored in close in the third period as the Rangers scored 12 goals in sweeping the two games against their Hudson River rivals.

Nathan Bastian closed the gap to 5-3, but Strome iced the game with an empty net goal.

''If we're going to play like that, we're going to lose, we'll lose every night,'' Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. ''Our puck play wasn't good, our attention to detail wasn't good enough. We had some 50-50 battles that I you know I believe that we could have won, that we didn't. The desperation I think along the walls to compete, no situation, was good enough.''

What's impressive about the Rangers' current run is they are winning with top forward Artemi Panarin (personal leave) and top defenseman Jacob Trouba (broken thumb) sidelined, and Chytil just returning to the lineup.

Strome said the Rangers have worked hard all season but could not string together wins.

''I think lately we're finding a way,'' he said ''I don't think the last two wins were pretty. But today was a pretty solid effort. I think all around we got to be pretty pleased with, the contributions of everyone. Just a solid game.''

The Rangers caught a break early when Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen was called for a double minor for high sticking 1:33 into the contest.

Fox gave New York the lead 33 seconds later, scoring on a length of the ice rush. Strome got his seventh of the year in close after a turnover in the Devils' end.

Subban closed the gap to 2-1 with a point shot at 14:54 and Maltsev tied the game in close at 15:11.

HORRIBLE HOME

The Devils are 2-9-1 at home after losing all five games on the stand that ended Saturday. The last time they lost five straight at home was 2000-01 when they dropped six in a row early. Remarkably, they went to the Cup Final that year and lost to Colorado in seven games.

NOTES: F Kaako Kappo returned to the Rangers' lineup after missing the last six games because of COVID-19. He had an assist on the Strome's first goal. ... With Shesterkin sidelined, former Devil Keith Kinkaid was the Rangers backup. ... Devils C Michael McLeod did not play for the first time this season. ... Georgiev picked up an assist on the Fox goal. ... The Devils signed F Graeme Clarke signed a three-year, entry-level contract starting in the 2021-22 season. The 19-year-old was a third-round pick in the 2019 draft.

UP NEXT

Rangers: At Pittsburgh Sunday and Tuesday for the second stop in six-game road trip that ends with two in Boston.

Devils: Travel to Boston to face the Bruins in the opener of the three-game road trip that includes stops in Washington and in New York against the Islanders.

Crosby caps first-period outburst, Pens defeat Rangers 5-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh allowed an early three-goal lead to slip away in a loss to Philadelphia earlier in the week. The Penguins didn't make the same mistake Sunday against the New York Rangers.

Sidney Crosby capped Pittsburgh's three-goal outburst in the first period, and the Penguins beat the Rangers 5-1.

Crosby scored his eighth of the season, Kasperi Kapanen netted his sixth, and John Marino his first as Pittsburgh scored three goals on six shots in the opening period.

''We don't want to be a team that sits on leads,'' Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. ''We're at our best when we continue to score. I thought we did a better job of managing the game.''

Evgeni Malkin and Zach Aston-Reese scored in the third period as the Penguins won for the ninth time in 13 games. Casey DeSmith made 22 saves in his second start since Feb. 11.

Pittsburgh, which recently took two of three from Philadelphia in the highly competitive East Division, have eight wins and points in 11 of their last 12 games against the Rangers.

''We beat a pretty good Philadelphia Flyers team after a disappointing game,'' Sullivan said. ''I like the traction our team is getting as of late. We're trying to learn through our experiences.''

Mika Zibanejad scored his third of the season for the Rangers, who had their season-best three-game winning streak halted.

Alexandar Georgiev started the game in net for the Rangers, but was pulled after allowing three goals on six shots. Keith Kinkaid made 16 saves in his first NHL action since Nov. 30, 2019. Igor Shesterkin remains day-to-day with a groin injury.

''I thought we played well up until (Pittsburgh's) first goal,'' Rangers' coach David Quinn said. ''It's disappointing because I thought we got off to a really good start.''

Zibanejad scored at 1:18, on the first shot of the game, but Pittsburgh closed the first with a three-goal flurry in just 1:01 to open a 3-1 lead.

Marino tied the game at 16:13 with his first goal since March 3, 2020, and Kapanen gave Pittsburgh the lead 39 seconds later on a breakaway. Kapanen has points in six of his last eight games against the Rangers.

Crosby split a pair of New York defensemen 22 seconds later and chased Georgiev from the game with a glove-side wrist shot.

''We just tried to keep putting pucks behind them and applying pressure,'' Kapanen said. ''The game against Philly, we kind of let our foot off the gas, but we played a solid 60 minutes (Sunday) and it showed.''

PENS' THREE-GOAL BURST

Sunday's game against the Rangers was the second time in three games that Pittsburgh scored three first-period goals in less than 90 seconds.

Pittsburgh scored three times in 1:11 on Thursday at home against Philadelphia. But the Flyers overcame the early deficit and rallied to stun the Penguins with a 4-3 win.

The Penguins were able to hold on following their three-goal, 61-second first-period outburst on Sunday against the Rangers. But it didn't come without tense moments, after Zibanejad missed an open net and hit a post in the second period, which would've made it a one-goal game. Pittsburgh also failed to capitalize on two second-period power plays, keeping it close.

''Every win in this league is difficult,'' Sullivan said. ''We're trying to find different ways to win and we just have to continue to do that. We can't dwell on any one circumstance, whether it's positive or negative. We have to move by it and get ready for the next one.''

McCANN LEAVES EARLY

Penguins' F Jared McCann left Sunday's game with about five minutes to play in the second period and did not return. Sullivan said he was being evaluated for an upper-body injury.

McCann, who scored the game-winning goal Saturday against Philadelphia, entered Sunday's game on a three-game point streak. He had four points in five games and returned to the lineup on Feb. 27 after missing seven games with a lower-body injury.

''It's discouraging to see Jared go down,'' Sullivan said. ''Hopefully, it's something that won't be too long. We're hopeful that we'll get some positive news.''

TROUBA RETURNS FOR RANGERS

Rangers' D Jacob Trouba returned to the lineup on Sunday after missing eight games with a broken thumb. Jack Johnson, who spent the last two seasons with Pittsburgh, was scratched.

Trouba, a first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, last played during a Feb. 16 home loss against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old defenseman, who was initially expected to miss four-to-six weeks, had a secondary assist on Zibanejad's game-opening goal. He has four assists in 15 games this season.

''Obviously, with breaks, it takes a little time to get back, but I thought we played a pretty solid first period as a team,'' Trouba said. ''Kind of had a bad stretch in two minutes and it cost us.''

UP NEXT

Pittsburgh concludes a five-game homestand on Tuesday against the Rangers. Pittsburgh is scheduled to play 12 home games in March, most in a calendar month in franchise history and second-most in NHL history. The Rangers are in the midst of a six-game trip.

Kapanen, Penguins stay hot in 4-2 win over Rangers

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins keep finding ways to make it hard on themselves. More importantly, they keep finding ways to navigate their way out of trouble, too.

Having a goalie regaining his All-Star form helps.

Tristan Jarry made 33 saves - including a couple of sprawling stops in the final minutes - and the surging Penguins held off the New York Rangers 4-2 on Tuesday night. Jarry improved to 8-3 in his last 11 starts by stoning the Rangers repeatedly in the third period after New York drew within a goal.

Only captain Sidney Crosby's empty-net goal with 32 seconds left allowed Pittsburgh the chance to exhale at the end of a 4-1 homestand.

''We've won a bunch of different ways this year,'' said forward Teddy Blueger, whose short-handed goal early in the second gave Pittsburgh the lead for good. ''It's going to be like that when a team comes at us hard and things get scrambly. Jars came up huge for us. ... We'll take it and kind of learn from it and move forward.''

Kasperi Kapanen got his fourth goal in his last five games with 19 seconds to go in the second period at the end of what Penguins coach Mike Sullivan called perhaps his team's best shift of the season. Jake Guentzel also scored for Pittsburgh as the Penguins improved to 5-1 against the Rangers.

Pittsburgh began the homestand reeling a bit following a dismal loss to the New York Islanders. The Penguins responded by winning four of five - the only loss coming in a game in which they blew a three-goal lead - to leapfrog Philadelphia and move into fourth place in the East Division as the midpoint of the truncated 56-game season nears.

''I like the resilience the group has shown,'' Sullivan said. ''I think our guys have shown an ability to just stay in the moment and continue to compete and I think that's an important aspect of becoming a good team.''

New York defenseman Jack Johnson - making his first appearance in Pittsburgh since the Penguins released him during the offseason - scored his first goal in more than a year. Ryan Strome picked up his ninth with a power-play score early in the third period. Keith Kinkaid made 23 stops while withstanding an early barrage but couldn't prevent the Rangers from dropping their second straight.

''I thought a much better effort than (a 5-1 loss in Pittsburgh on Sunday night) but unfortunately, when you're chasing this team and you lose both, it's frustrating,'' Strome said. ''There's not much we can take away from this one in terms of feeling good.''

JOHNSON RETURNS

Johnson spent two turbulent years in Pittsburgh before the Penguins bought out the final three years of his contract in October. He landed in New York, where's been in and out of the lineup. The 34-year-old gave the Rangers the lead 9:16 into the first when his innocent flip from the point found its way through traffic - perhaps helped by a deflection off the skate of Pittsburgh defenseman John Marino - and by Jarry.

The goal was Johnson's first since Jan. 19, 2020, when he was in the middle of his second season with Pittsburgh.

The Penguins parted ways with Johnson to get younger and faster on the blue line. Guentzel's goal provided a snapshot of why Pittsburgh wanted to move on.

Crosby created a turnover in the New York zone and fed a cross-ice pass to a streaking Guentzel. Johnson was the closest Rangers player but rather than charge Guentzel or attempt a poke check, he hesitated and Guentzel ripped a shot over Kinkaid's glove to tie it with 1:06 remaining in the first.

''I just saw him out of the corner of my eye,'' Crosby said. ''He did all the work there.''

KAPANEN CRESTING

Kapanen began the season on the top line with Crosby, dropped all the way to the fourth line at one point and has been a bit of a nomad at times. He seems to be meshing with Evgeni Malkin. Kapanen has four goals and three assists in his last five games. Malkin's assist on Kapanen's wrist shot from the slot at the end of extended pressure gave him points in seven straight home games for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

''That was a great shift, they were moving the puck around real well,'' Blueger said. ''They're a pretty high-skilled line. ... The second period wasn't great, so to get that momentum going into the third was huge.''

UP NEXT

Rangers: Continue their six-game road trip Thursday in Boston.

DeBrusk scores, Halak gets shutout, Bruins beat Rangers 4-0

BOSTON (AP) Jake DeBrusk returned after being benched one game for lack of effort and scored his first goal in almost a month, chasing Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev early in the second period and leading the Boston Bruins to a 4-0 victory on Thursday night.

''The reason I played that way tonight is I was ****** off,'' said DeBrusk, who watched Tuesday night's game from the press level as a healthy scratch. ''I'm keeping that. It's not going away.''

David Krejci scored his first goal of the season and Brad Marchand had two assists - one of them after sliding the puck through his own skates to set up Patrice Bergeron's short-handed goal that gave Boston a 2-0 lead after one. David Pastrnak also scored for Boston, and Jaroslav Halak stopped 28 shots for his second shutout of the year.

The Bruins snapped a two-game losing streak and earned just their fourth victory in 11 games.

Georgiev stopped 10 of the 14 shots he saw before he was pulled five minutes into the second period after allowing back-to-back goals 1:21 apart to Krejci and DeBrusk. Keith Kinkaid came on and stopped all 13 shots the rest of the way for New York, which lost its third in a row.

''I don't want to point the finger at Georgie, but their chances did go in and ours didn't,'' Rangers coach David Quinn said. ''I don't want to point the finger at one person; this wasn't on one person.''

DeBrusk, who had 16 goals as a rookie in 2017-18 and 27 the next year, had just one score and four assists in 17 games before coach Bruce Cassidy sat him for Tuesday's game against the Islanders. Asked why, the coach didn't hold back, saying, ''We just feel we're not getting the effort required.''

''I liked what I saw tonight,'' Cassidy said Thursday. ''I'm happy that he scored - him and Krech both. They've been a little snakebit. Should be good for their confidence.''

DeBrusk scored for the first time since Feb. 18, converting a crossing pass from Krejci to make it 4-0 and chase Georgiev. The 24-year-old forward also had two hits and blocked a shot in 15:48 of ice time.

''I'm a pretty easy target at the moment. I understand the territory. It's pretty much warranted. So yeah, I took that personally. Who wouldn't?'' said DeBrusk, who cut his hair short and changed sticks for his return.

''It worked,'' he said. ''I just needed to look a little younger. Feels like everyone thought I was done.''

TAKING THE LEAD

Pastrnak gave Boston a 1-0 lead with four minutes gone in the game when he one-timed a pass from Marchand past Georgiev from the blue line. With Nick Ritchie off for tripping, Marchand skated into the zone, slid the puck into his skates to elude a defender and then backhanded it to Bergeron in the slot.

UP NEXT

The teams meet again in Boston on Saturday.

Rangers beat Bruins 4-0 in Panarin's first game back

BOSTON (AP) Chris Kreider scored his team-leading 14th goal, Artemi Panarin had an assist in his first game back since leaving the team, and the New York Rangers beat the Boston Bruins 4-0 Saturday to halt a three-game losing streak.

Panarin left Feb. 22 after a Russian tabloid printed allegations from a former coach that he attacked a woman in Latvia almost a decade ago, which he denies. His return clearly provided a lift for New York.

''You put him in the lineup and then it looks like we have more swagger,'' Rangers coach David Quinn said.

The Rangers went 4-5 while he was gone.

Keith Kinkaid stopped 18 shots for his first shutout since 2018. Ryan Strome, Pavel Buchnevich and K'Andre Miller each had a goal for New York, which lost 4-0 in Boston on Thursday. Mika Zibanejad added two assists and Kreider had one.

''It was definitely a huge boost getting him back,'' Zibanejad said about Panarin. ''Not only for the game but for the locker room.''

Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves for the Bruins, who have dropped eight of their last 12 games.

''You see a game like that and it's: `Are we tired or are we out of shape?''' Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. ''At the end of it, I think there's a number of things. But it's unacceptable, the effort has to be there everyday. That's the most disappointing thing about today was the effort.''

The Rangers called the story about Panarin fabricated and designed to intimidate him for his political views against Russian President Vladimir Putin. His former coach in the Kontinental Hockey League, Andrei Nazarov, said he was motivated to speak about the alleged incident because he disagreed with Panarin's criticism of the Russian government.

Playing in just his fourth game this season, the 31-year-old Kinkaid was hardly tested as the Rangers got to most of the loose pucks, limited the Bruins' break-ins and ability to control the puck in the offensive zone.

At the end, a Rangers player could be heard yelling: ''That a boy, Keith!''

Recalled from the taxi squad on March 6 when Igor Shesterkin was injured, Kinkaid played in relief Thursday, stopping all 13 shots. On Saturday, he saw just 11 on goal in the first two periods.

''I'm just happy to be able to get some NHL games again to prove myself,'' he said, smiling.

Boston forward Jake DeBrusk, who had a goal Thursday after being benched and called out for his play this season by Cassidy, missed the game because he was in COVID-19 protocol.

Coming off a lackluster effort when they were decidedly outplayed on Thursday, the Rangers were ready from the start, hitting the Bruins early and controlled most of the first two periods.

''We've got to find a way to string a couple of these games together,'' Zibanejad said.

Miller's wrister from the right point ricocheted into the net off the far post, making it 1-0 just 3:06 into the game.

''I think right away we couldn't sustain our game,'' Boston forward Nick Ritchie said. ''We couldn't tilt the ice. It made for a long game.''

Kreider's goal made it 2-0 in the second period when he one-timed Zibanejad's pass from the right corner after the puck slid through the slot just past the stick of Jarred Tinordi's diving attempt to block it.

HALAK HIGHLIGHTS

New York's 1-0 edge after one period would have been more without two stellar stops by Halak. He made a left pad save on Alexis Lafreniere's bid from the edge of the crease at the end of a New York power play, and stopped Kevin Rooney's open shot from directly in front.

He also robbed Kreider's two close chances on a Rangers power play midway into the second.

TUUKKA TIMETABLE

Cassidy didn't have any update on No. 1 goalie Tuukka Rask's potential return during his morning videoconference with the media. Cassidy just said if Rask couldn't travel that Halak would not play both games of a two-game trip to Pittsburgh.

Rask suffered an undisclosed injury at the end of last Sunday's loss against New Jersey, reaching for his back as he skated quickly to the bench for an extra skater in the closing minutes.

Dan Vladar was the backup Saturday.

WHAT'S NEXT

Rangers: host the Flyers on Monday in the first matchup between the clubs at Madison Square Garden this season.

Voracek scores in OT to give Flyers 5-4 win over Rangers

NEW YORK (AP) Jakub Voracek scored on a breakaway at 3:47 of overtime to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 5-4 win over the New York Rangers on Monday night.

Claude Giroux, Joel Farabee and Ivan Provorov each had a goal and an assist, and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Flyers, who won for the third time in eight games. Voracek also had two assists.

''We found a way to get it done,'' Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. ''Every win is not easy to get. It's a tough league and we found a way to get two points.''

In the extra period, Voracek stole the puck on the left side from a flat-footed Artemi Panarin after goalie Keith Kinkaid's soft pass up the ice. Voracek skated in alone and beat Kinkaid with a forehand deke for his fourth.

Carter Hart finished with 20 saves, getting his first win since a shutout against Buffalo on Feb. 28. He was 0-3-0 in four appearances since then.

''There are a lot of things I can work on and I know I can be better,'' Hart said. ''It felt good to get a win and it's something to build off.''

Vigneault was pleased with his goalie's performance.

''He made big saves for us,'' the coach said. ''He made some saves at the right time and hopefully it's a step for him and a step in the right direction for our team.''

Panarin had a goal and two assists in the Rangers' three-goal second period, and Colin Blackwell, Julien Gauthier and Kevin Rooney also scored. Kinkaid, starting for the second straight game, stopped 25 shots.

''You always want two points under the circumstances, especially after the slow start we had,'' Rangers coach David Quinn said. ''I thought a little too sloppy, too many odd-man rushes, the breakaways obviously have to stop, better reads on our gaps, pinching.''

The teams meet again at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

Rooney put the Rangers ahead 4-3, getting a pass from Brendan Lemieux and quickly putting the puck past Hart from the right circle for his fifth at 2:56 of the third.

Giroux tied it again on a power play as he came around the net and tapped in a pass from Voracek from the left doorstep at 5:33.

''One of the crazier things I've seen,'' Farabee said. ''Jake literally called that play exactly right before it happened. I just watched it from the point. They are so good and are such good leaders.''

Scott Laughton had a chance to put the Flyers ahead on a breakaway with a little more than six minutes left, but Kinkaid made a sliding pad save on his backhand try. Kinkaid stopped a breakaway by Voracek about 2 1/2 minutes later.

Kevin Hayes appeared to give the Flyers the lead with their third power-play goal of the night with about three minutes remaining, but it was overturned after the Rangers challenged successfully for offside.

Philadelphia, which came in 5 for 19 on the power play over its last six games, finished 2 for 5 against the Rangers. New York was 20 for 21 on the penalty kill over its previous 10 games.

Trailing 2-0 after being outshot 11-6 in the first period, the Rangers scored three times in a 7:04 stretch of the second to take the lead.

Panarin fired a one-timer from the left circle, falling down on the follow through, off a pass from rookie defenseman Tarmo Reunanen in his NHL debut at 8:12. It was Panarin's sixth.

Panarin, in his second game back after missing nine during his leave of absence, then set up Blackwell for the tying goal with 9:08 left.

Gauthier put the Rangers ahead when he skated up the right side, cut across in front of Hart and backhanded the puck past the goalie for his second with 4:44 remaining in the period.

Farabee tied it with a power-play goal with 1:24 left on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from behind the net by Giroux. It was Farabee's 12th.

The Flyers took the lead with a pair of goals less than 80 seconds apart early in the first period.

Farabee sent a cross-ice pass to van Riemsdyk streaking toward the net and he quickly beat Kinkaid for his team-leading 13th at 3:47. It was his third goal in the last four games.

Provorov made it 2-0 as he beat Kinkaid with a long shot from beyond the left circle that got through traffic and clanged in off the right post for his fourth at 5:05.

WE REMEMBER YOU

The Rangers held a moment of silence before the game to honor Walter Gretzky and Mark Pavelich, both of whom died this month. Gretzky was the father of NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, who spent three seasons with the Rangers. Pavelich, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team that won gold at Lake Placid, spent five seasons in New York.

SIDELINED

Rangers D Adam Fox and F Pavel Buchnevich were added to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list earlier in the day. They joined F Phillip Di Giuseppe, who was added to the list Sunday.

WELCOME, KID

Reunanen, selected by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, had two goals and three assists in eight games with Hartford of the AHL this season.

RAFFL RETURNS

F Michael Raffl returned to the Flyers' lineup after missing four games due to a swollen right hand. Raffl centered a line with Oskar Lindblom and Nic Aube-Kubel.

STREAKS

Sean Couturier has six assists during a five-game point streak that came one game after he snapped an eight-game streak in which he had six goals and six assists.

Panarin has a goal and six assists during a four-game point streak.

Zibanejad has 3 goals, 3 assists as Rangers rout Flyers 9-0

NEW YORK (AP) Mika Zibanejad had three goals and three assists in New York's seven-goal second period, and the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 9-0 Wednesday night.

Pavel Buchnevich had two goals and two assists - all in the second period - and Brendan Lemieux, Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba and Filip Chytil also scored in the Rangers' most decisive victory since beating New Jersey 9-0 on March 31, 1986. Alexandar Georgiev stopped 26 shots for his sixth career shutout.

''I thought we were ready to go from the start,'' said Zibanejad. ''It was a great effort, we really played together. . Obviously, we got rewarded, especially in the second period. It was an amazing feeling and a nice win tonight.''

The Rangers were without head coach David Quinn and assistants Jacques Martin, David Oliver and Greg Brown due to NHL COVID-19 protocols. Hartford Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch and associate head coach Gord Murphy, and Rangers associate general manager Chris Drury were behind the bench.

''You didn't have much time to think about it,'' Knoblauch said when asked about pregame preparation as the acting head coach. ''Everything was laid out for us from the coaching staff. When the game started there were some nerves, definitely some excitement. . It's certainly a night that I will never forget.''

Brian Elliott started in goal for Philadelphia and allowed five goals on 13 shots before being replaced midway through the second period as the Flyers lost for the third time in four games. Carter Hart finished with 12 saves.

''It was embarrassing to be playing on that ice tonight the way we played,'' Flyers' captain Claude Giroux said. ''We didn't help our goalies at all. There's not a lot of words to say. We know we got to wake up.''

Zibanejad scored three consecutive goals in a 10:10 span of the second for his fifth career hat trick. The Swedish center also topped 400 career points.

Zibanejad converted a short-handed breakaway at 8:27 on the first shot Hart saw in relief of Elliott. Panarin found Zibanejad dashing through the offensive zone on the power play before Zibanejad lifted the puck over Hart's glove with 5:31 left in the period. Zibanejad completed the natural hat trick with an even-strength goal at with 1:23 remaining to make it 8-0.

Chytil capped the scoring with his fourth of the season a minute later.

''It was surreal, Georgiev said. ''It felt like we were just doing all the right things. We did not play some crazy open hockey. We just made sure to wait for their mistakes. The guys played unreal today. It was something special.''

Both of Buchnevich's goals came early in the second to extend the Rangers' lead to 4-0 and key the big period. The Russian winger fired a shot from the slot after Zibanejad created a turnover behind the Flyers net at 1:38. Two minutes later, Buchnevich was the beneficiary of an odd bounce off Flyers defenseman Philippe Myers.

Myers and his defensive partner Travis Sanheim were on the ice for the Rangers' first five goals of the contest.

''Nothing about this game was any good,'' Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. ''We are going to throw it out, get ready for the next one.''

Lemieux opened the scoring at 7:05 of the first. Adam Fox, back after a one-game absence due to COVID-19 protocol, made a nifty move at the blue line and delivered a cross-ice pass to set up Lemieux.

Panarin doubled the Rangers' first-period advantage with his second goal in two games. Ryan Strome picked up a loose puck in the offensive zone and fed Panarin at 14:47.

Trouba netted his first of the season at 3:38 of the second to make it 3-0.

RECORD-SETTING PERFORMANCE

Zibanejad became the second player in NHL history to register six points in a period, joining Bryan Trottier, who accomplished the feat in 1978 for the New York Islanders against the Rangers.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION

The Rangers scored nine goals through the first two periods of a game for the second time in franchise history. The other came against the Hartford Whalers on Feb. 23, 1989.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

At least one Ranger who is 23 years old or younger has tallied a point on 28 of the team's 45 goals in the last 12 games (eight goals, 31 assists)

UP NEXT

Flyers: At the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

Rangers: At Washington on Friday night.

Ovechkin scores 2 in final 7 minutes, Capitals beat Rangers

WASHINGTON (AP) Alex Ovechkin shook off the kind of big hit he's used to delivering and scored the kind of timely, clutch goals he has built his career on.

Ovechkin scored two rebound goals in the final seven minutes to give the Washington Capitals their seventh consecutive victory by coming back to beat the New York Rangers 2-1 on Friday night.

A hit from big Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren that leveled Ovechkin and broke his stick maybe only woke up one of hockey's greatest goal-scorers, who again showed he can put the puck in the net every which way.

''Sometimes you have to get those really gritty ones,'' Ovechkin said. ''It's still the same whether it's goal from my spot or whatever. It's most important goal, and it'll take it.''

Ovechkin tied it with 6:42 left by poking a loose puck past goaltender Alexandar Georgiev and put the Capitals ahead on a nearly identical play with 3:33 remaining. He has scored in five in a row and has seven goals in the past seven games.

''He has a great determination to get to the front of the net and get the puck in,'' said defenseman Justin Schultz, who took the initial shot that led to Ovechkin's first goal. ''He was huge for us tonight.''

Washington's longtime captain now leads the team with 14 goals. After moving into sole possession of sixth place on the NHL career goals list earlier in the week, Ovechkin's goals against the Rangers were Nos. 719 and 720, moving him closer to Marcel Dionne in fifth.

''He's a Hall of Famer that's always finding ways to score,'' said acting Rangers coach Kris Knoblauch, who ran the bench for a second consecutive game with David Quinn and his staff unavailable because of NHL COVID protocol.

Ovechkin's late-game heroics kept the Capitals winning streak alive after a lackluster first 50 minutes. They had only 12 shots on net before the play that led to his tying goal, and New York was cruising toward a second consecutive shutout victory.

Instead, Vitek Vanecek could celebrate his 13th victory of the season after stopping 32 shots. New York's only goal came on the power play when Artemi Panarin scored his eighth of the season.

''We liked he way we played for the most part,'' Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba said. ''We had a couple rebounds in front in the last (seven) minutes. It's tough to lose that way.''

Panarin has three goals and four assists for a four-game point streak since returning from a two-week leave of absence. Georgiev allowed just those two goals to Ovechkin on 18 shots in the loss.

LINDGREN DELIVERS

While Washington players jawed at Lindgren plenty after his open-ice hit on Ovechkin midway through the second period, Ovechkin himself had no issues with it.

''It was a great hit,'' Ovechkin said. ''He hit my stick. It got broken. It was a good hit. It's hockey.''

No problem from the Rangers' side, either.

''It's just their team standing up for their star player,'' Knoblauch said. ''He wasn't targeting a star player or head hunting or anything like that. He was just playing the way that Lindy does.''

WILSON ALMOST BACK

Capitals winger Tom Wilson is now done serving his seven-game suspension for boarding Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo on March 5. It was his fifth NHL suspension but first since fall of 2018.

''I have to continue to adjust, and I think the game is always adapting year to year,'' Wilson said. ''At the end of the day, it can't happen. I can't be missing seven games. I can't be missing one game. I've got to be in the lineup.''

Wilson was one of Washington's best players all around this season before getting suspended, with seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 21 games. Winning all seven games without him was nice, but coach Peter Laviolette said the Capitals miss Wilson's presence.

''He brings so much to our team - just his energy, to have him in the room and on the bench with his size and his game and his physicality,'' Laviolette said. ''We're certainly going to be happy to see him back.''

SHESTERKIN SKATES

The Rangers reported that goaltender Igor Shesterkin skated Friday morning and remains day to day with a strained groin. Keith Kinkaid backed up Georgiev while Shesterkin missed his eighth consecutive game since getting injured March 4.

ELEVEN AND SIX

Without Wilson and center Lars Eller, who missed a third consecutive game with a lower-body injury, the Capitals dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen because they don't have the salary cap space to recall another forward. Despite defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk being in uniform, he didn't skate a single shift and has racked up a total of 7:51 of ice time in the past three games.

UP NEXT

These teams face off again Saturday night in Washington.

Zibanejad scores late, Rangers end Capitals' win streak at 7

WASHINGTON (AP) Mika Zibanejad scored the go-ahead goal with 2:32 left, Keith Kinkaid made 28 saves and the New York Rangers beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 Saturday night to snap the NHL's longest winning streak at seven.

New York has won three of four against East Division-leading Washington this season. The Rangers led for much of the game Friday night before losing on two late goals by Alex Ovechkin.

It looked like a similar recipe Friday after Pavel Buchnevich gave the Rangers a lead late in the first period with his 11th goal of the season off a perfect pass from defenseman Adam Fox. John Carlson tied it on a rebound with 14:05 left, and the Capitals threatened on an ensuring power play.

''I was really worried about the confidence,'' said Rangers acting coach Kris Knoblauch, who filled in for a third consecutive game with David Quinn and his staff in league COVID protocol. ''It could've easily been `Oh, here we go again.' But guys were positive, especially the leaders were talking and just wanted to make sure we finished this one out. I don't think there was panic at all.''

Kinkaid kept the Rangers in the game, and Zibanejad won it almost singlehandedly. He hounded Capitals defenseman Brenden Dillon in the offensive zone, stole the puck and roofed a shot past Ilya Samsonov.

''It was a tough bounce,'' Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. ''It was a tough break. Dilly's been so good for us. It was just one of those bounces that didn't go our way. We'll move past it.''

Zibanejad's goal was his seventh of the season after a rough start.

''I feel like myself again,'' Zibanejad said. ''It feels nice when you can contribute offensively. That's what's expected out of me.''

Brett Howden sealed it with an empty-netter with 28 seconds left, handing Washington its first loss since March 5 at Boston.

''Every loss is disappointing,'' Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov said. ''We are trying to build the momentum. We are trying to build the spirit that it is very tough to play against us, so of course it is disappointing.''

Kinkaid, the Rangers' third goaltender, picked up his second victory of the season a week after shutting out the Boston Bruins. He and Alexandar Georgiev remain the rotation with Igor Shesterkin still out with a groin strain.

''I don't want to stop here,'' Kinkaid said. ''I want to keep it going.''

OVECHKIN HURT?

Ovechkin went down the tunnel followed by a trainer midway through the second period and skated around a few times during stoppages like he was trying to loosen something up. The Capitals captain returned to action and appeared to be rolling something on the back of his right leg while sitting on the bench between shifts.

Despite all that, Ovechkin played 22:56, the most of any forward in the game.

LOW LAFRENIERE ICE TIME

No. 1 pick Alexis Lafreniere skated a season-low 07:53 of ice time on 14 shifts. Knoblauch blamed himself.

''It's probably mismanagement of the bench and not realizing the situation,'' he said. ''I did want to keep him away from their top line. But other than that, I wish I would've played him more. It was just that they had last change, there was a lot of D-zone faceoffs for us and just unfortunately he missed out on some shifts.''

ELLER STILL OUT

Washington got winger Tom Wilson back after serving his five-game suspension but was still without third-line center Lars Eller because of a lower-body injury. Eller missed his fourth consecutive game.

Without Eller, T.J. Oshie started the game at center, a position he played earlier this season when the Capitals were missing Eller and Kuznetsov.

JOHNSON DONE FOR SEASON

Rangers defenseman Jack Johnson underwent core muscle repair surgery and will be out for the rest of the season. Johnson hadn't played since March 9 and was limited to one goal - that game - in 13 with the Rangers this season after being bought out by Pittsburgh.

UP NEXT

Rangers: Return home to face the last-place Buffalo Sabres on Monday.