Fedotenko, Callahan Lead Rangers Past Capitals
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ruslan Fedotenko scored twice and Ryan Callahan had three assists as the New York Rangers set a season high for goals in a 6-3 win over the erratic Washington Capitals on Friday.
After a scoreless first period, the Rangers scored three times in a 4:18 span in the second.
Artem Anisimov and Brad Richards had a goal and an assist each and Dan Girardi had two assists for New York, which had lost two straight after a seven-game winning streak.
Alex Ovechkin broke a six-game streak without a goal with his eighth of the season — his first at home. It came in the third period, with the Capitals trailing 5-2.
Marian Gaborik scored his 10th goal of the season at 3:37 to give New York a 1-0 lead. He took a cross-ice pass from Derek Stepan and cleanly beat goaltender Michal Neuvirth with a slap shot from the right wing.
With Washington's Cody Eakin off the ice for a holding penalty, the Rangers controlled the faceoff, and eight seconds later, Anisimov, who assisted on Gaborik's goal, shot past a confused Neuvirth at 6:52 for a 2-0 lead. It was Anisimov's second goal of the season.
It was New York's first power-play goal after failing on 14 straight attempts.
A little more than a minute later, the Rangers' Ryan Callahan stole the puck from Marcus Johansson in front of the Capitals' net and dished it to Ruslan Fedotenko, who easily made it 3-0 at 7:55 with his second goal this season.
Washington, which won its first seven games this season, but has gone 5-8-1 since, quickly narrowed New York's lead to 3-2.
Less than a minute after Fedotenko's first goal, Troy Brouwer was in front of the Rangers' goal and tapped his fourth goal of the season past Henrik Lundqvist at 8:53.
Washington's John Carlson made it 3-2 on a power-play goal at 12:52. From about 30 feet, he shot over Lundqvist's left pad. It was his fourth goal of the season.
New York took a 4-2 lead at 16:45 on Brian Boyle's goal — his second of the season.
Richards' seventh goal of the season gave New York a 5-2 lead at 4:14 of the third.
Fedotenko scored his second goal — New York's sixth at 11:40.
Ovechkin's goal came at 5:57 of the third.
NOTES: New York F Andre Deveaux served the first of a three-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Florida Panthers forward Tomas Fleischmann on Wednesday. ... The Rangers recalled F Carl Hagelin and C John Mitchell from Connecticut of the AHL, and both assisted on Boyle's goal. It was Hagelin's NHL debut. ... Carlson's goal was the Capitals' first on a 5-on-4 power play in 31 attempts. They scored on a 5-on-3 power play in Monday's win over Phoenix. ... Carlson and Brouwer each had a goal and assist for Washington. Nicklas Backstrom had two assists. ... Capitals D Mike Green (groin) and D John Erskine (shoulder) were scratched. ... The Capitals play at Buffalo on Saturday. ... The Rangers host Philadelphia on Saturday.
