Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Capitals beat the Rangers, 4-1 Tuesday evening at Madison Square Garden. The win raised the Capitals record to 42-12-8 (91 points). The Capitals next head home for a three-game homestand, starting with the New Jersey Devils Thursday night at Verizon Center. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. 

Braden Holtby got the start in net for the Capitals. Henrik Lundqvist got the start for the Rangers.

Kevin Shattenkirk, acquired in a trade with St. Louis on Monday, made his first start for the Capitals. Riley Barber and Jakub Vrana were called up from Hershey on Tuesday, and started for the Caps.

Brooks Orpik (lower body) and TJ Oshie (upper body) did not play in the game. Andre Burakovsky missed his 7th game due to a hand injury.

QUICK NOTES

• Brett Connolly set a career best with his 13th goal of the season.
• Marcus Johansson scored his 20th and 21st goal of the season, setting a career best.
• Barry Trotz won his 700th career NHL win.
• Braden Holtby made 29 saves to improve to 17-0-2 in his past 19 decisions (1.79 GAA, .933 SV%, 4 SO).
• Braden Holtby (181-68-30) has backstopped the Capitals to at least a point in over three-quarters of his career decisions (211 of 279, 75.6%).

FIRST PERIOD
The Rangers would strike first on a dirty goal by Brady Skjei at 5:08 of the opening frame.

The Rangers had several quality scoring chances, including hitting three posts, but could not manage another tally in the period. The period would end with the Rangers leading 1-0. The Rangers led in shots on goal 11-8 for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
Marcus Johansson would tie the game on the end of a nice feed from Dmitry Orlov at 7:28 of the middle frame.

The Rangers would get the lead back on a goal by Michael Grabner at 12:06 of the middle frame. The Capitals challenged the goal, saying the play was offsides. The video review confirmed the Capitals challenge, and the goal was disallowed.

Brett Connolly would give the Capitals their first lead of the game with a goal at 16:26 of the middle frame.

The period would conclude with the Caps leading 2-1. The Capitals outshot the Rangers 19-9 for the middle frame. The Caps led in shots on goal 27-20 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
Marcus Johansson would stretch the Capitals lead to 3-1 on with another goal by Marcus Johansson at 1:15 of the final frame.

Nicklas Backstrom would add a power play goal at the 17:57 mark of the final frame, stretching the Caps lead to 4-1.

The Caps would hold on for the 4-1 win.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVA_Caps

SCENES FROM NEW YORK CITY

👋 @shattdeuces! Kevin meets the media. #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/61X8Yr4IBe

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 28, 2017

Congratulations Coach Trotz! #CapsNYR #RockTheRed #LetsGoCaps #Caps #Capitals #CapitalsTalk pic.twitter.com/Vgk4vtVVjD

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 1, 2017