New York Finishes Caps Off in Game Four, Completing Series Sweep (4-29-24)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA Today
Washington D.C- Entering the game, the Caps didn’t feel the need to panic and wanted to take the remaining games one by one. Head Coach Spencer Carbery talked to the media on Saturday saying “We’re not trying to win a series. We’re trying to win one hockey game, so that’s how we’ll prepare.” The Capitals were getting reinforcements in defensemen Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin after they both missed the first three games of the series. Their veteran presence was missed in their top four blue line as they accounted for 4 goals, 33 assists, 229 blocks, and 137 hits in the regular season.
The Rangers wasted no time scoring less than a minute in, as Jensen would lose control of the puck giving it away right into the hands of Kappo Kakko who put it right past Lindgren for an early 1-0 lead. An unfortunate start for Washington, but the Caps kept at it generating great looks and shots on the net. The first period was fast-paced and high-flying with energy from both squads. Eventually, Dylan Strome would win a battle for a dumped-in puck passing it to Aliakesi Protas cutting down the middle who would find a wide-open Martin Fehervary to the left side tying the game at one apiece.
But the New York Rangers would do as they’ve done often in the series and respond with a tally of their own. With a little less than 15 seconds left in the first on the man advantage, Vincent Trocheck tallied his third goal of the series.
The Caps would have to be down a man once again entering the second period but were able to kill off New York’s powerplay. Washington would get a man-up advantage themselves but wouldn’t be able to capitalize on the opportunity. The Caps spent most of the second period in the Rangers zone as they kept hacking away at look, keeping New York shotless for about a dozen minutes and outshot them 10-6 in the second. Center man Hendrix Lapierre tied things up around the 14th minute mark, attacking the zone 1 on 4 getting a shot on goal that Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin couldn’t fully control, allowing Lapierre to tap it in.
Entering the third period, the Caps went down a man early once again. New York would make Washington pay once again as Artemi Panarin would give them the eventual game-winning goal, launching a puck right under Lindgren’s right arm putting them ahead 3-2 with 16 minutes left. The Rangers dialed down on Wahington’s scoring chances holding them to five third-period shots as New York went to their 1-3-1 that has closed up the middle for the Caps throughout the series forcing them to the lines and dumping in pucks. The Caps would see time tick away and would hurt their chances when they took a late penalty, forcing the Caps to empty their net, and the Rangers scored to put the game away 4-2.
Alex Ovechkin was held to 0 points for the first time in his career in this playoff series against New York. The Caps had a great second half of the season, making this final push for the playoffs fighting night in and out in a tight Eastern Conference race. The Caps will have many questions this offseason regarding their veteran core, goalies, and surrounding young core next to Ovechkin.
New York moves on to play the winner of the Islanders and Hurricanes series.
