Ovechkin, Chimera lift Capitals over Rangers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Ovechkin and Jason Chimera each scored two goals in the Washington Capitals' 5-2 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday.
Braden Holtby made 23 saves for the Capitals, who hold the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Holtby started Saturday's 4-3 loss to Nashville, but was pulled late in the first period after giving up three goals on 13 shots.
"We wanted to get some points, some momentum," said Chimera. "We do a good job coming into this building and winning."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kevin Hayes and Derick Brassard lit the lamp for the Metropolitan Division- leading Rangers, who have lost three of four. Cam Talbot stopped 26-of-30 shots.
"I don't know if it was the energy level, but obviously our execution level was way off," said Rangers coach Alain Vigneault.
The Capitals took a 1-0 lead at 4:32 of the first period when Ovechkin beat Talbot from the left circle.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hayes put the Rangers on the board at 18:10. Washington defenseman John Carlson turned the puck over in his own zone and Hayes put a backhander past Holtby.
Brassard lit the lamp just over a minute later when he beat Holtby from the left circle.
Ovechkin scored his league-leading 49th goal of the season at 11:17 of the second on the power play. His slap shot from the top of the left circle got past Talbot.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chimera scored his first goal of the game at 4:41 of the third. Eric Fehr gathered a rebound near the right post and threw the puck in front, where Chimera jammed the disc under Talbot.
Chimera then put a backhander past Talbot at 7:40. Marcus Johansson added an empty-net goal at 17:37.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ovechkin is one goal away from his sixth 50-goal NHL season ... The Capitals went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Rangers went 0-for-5.