Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals began a home-and-home series with the New York Rangers with a 4-2 victory at Madison Square Garden. After winning the first two games of the road trip in Detroit and Montreal, the Capitals completed the sweep with the victory in New York Monday night. The Capitals won their fourth straight and eighth in their past nine games. 

Capitals’ Lines at New York Rangers

#Caps lines vs NYR:
8-Ovechkin, 92-Kuznetsov, 43-Wilson
65-Burakovsky, 19-Backstrom, 77-Oshie
10-Connolly, 20-Eller, 13-Vrana
18-Stephenson, 83-Beagle, 39-Chiasson

6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 2-Niskanen
44-Orpik, 28-Jerabek

Grubauer vs. Georgiev. #CapsNYR

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) March 26, 2018

First Period

After killing a penalty, T.J. Oshie scored on a give and go with Nicklas Backstrom. He beat Rangers’ goaltender Alexandar Georgiev low blocker side right after the Capitals killed off a penalty. The goal marked Oshie’s 17th of the season and fifth in the past seven. It came 2:57 into the game.

Wow. @TJOshie77 and @backstrom19 stay 🔥!! #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ZCMcYMtxlI

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 26, 2018

Evgeny Kuznetsov laid a beautiful backhand pass near the blueline to Matt Niskanen. Niskanen held it, waited, and went top shelf on Georgiev for his seventh tally of the season and second against the Rangers this season.

Nisky adds to the lead! Washington coming out hot. #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ua3neZHCB2

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 26, 2018

Alex Ovechkin scored his 45th goal of the season on the power play after taking a feed from John Carlson at the point. That would end Georgiev’s night at 8:52 of the first frame. The goal gave the Capitals a 3-0 lead.

SHORT. SIDE. ROCKET! @ovi8 #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/dNVOM75gty

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 27, 2018

Evgeny Kuznetsov made it 4-0 shorthanded taking a feed from Alex Chiasson. Kuznetsov potted it into a wide open cage for a slam dunk. The goal was his 24th goal of the season and his third in the past two games since returning from an upper-body injury that cost him two games out of the lineup.

Go deep I’ll look for ya! @Kuzya92 with the shortie. #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/B9zfozfLmo

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 27, 2018

The Capitals outshot the Rangers 15-7 and outhit them 8-6 in the first frame. The Capitals had only three giveaways to the Rangers’ nine. The Capitals struck on their lone power play in the period.

The Rangers won 56% of the faceoffs in the first period. They also led 5-3 in blocked shots and 3-0 in takeaways.

Second Period

Lias Andersson scored his first career NHL goal in his NHL debut to cut the lead to 4-1. He took a feed from Jimmy Vesey from behind the net and buried it behind Philipp Grubauer at 13:16.

The Capitals led the Rangers 9-6 in blocked shots and 25-23 in shots through two periods. The Capitals had only six giveaways to the Rangers’ 11.

The Rangers led 16-10 in shots in the second period, 6-4 in giveaways, and 11-10 in hits. They were 0-for-3 on the man advantage. New York won 53% of the faceoffs.

Third Period

Mats Zuccarello cut the Capitals’ lead in half taking a pass from Filip Chytil, who tallied his first NHL point on the goal, on the doorstep. Oshie dove into the crease attempting to save the goal but Zuccarello would bury it to give the Rangers some life at 4:26.

The Capitals led 15-8 in blocked shots and only had six giveaways to the Rangers’ 14. They outshot New York 8-7 in the third period 33-30 in the game. The Capitals won 51% of the faceoffs. The Capitals went 1-for-1 on the power play. The Capitals had only six giveaways to the Rangers’ 15.

The Rangers and outhit the Capitals 17-16. The Rangers went 0-for-4 on the power play.

Philipp Grubauer made 28 saves for his 14th win of the season.

Capitals, Rangers Reconvene in D.C. on Wednesday Night Rivalry

The Rangers follow the Capitals back home for the final meeting between the two teams at Capital One Arena on Wednesday night. The Capitals will play four of their final six games at home before the playoffs. The Rangers will be looking to stave off of elimination, sitting 12 points behind New Jersey for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They could be eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a regulation loss on Wednesday night while the Capitals could become the third team in the East to clinch a spot in the postseason. They are five points clear of the Penguins for the top spot in the division. Puck drop is at 8 PM on NBCSN.

By Harrison Brown