Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals overcame a two-goal deficit in the second period to defeat the New York Rangers, who saw a seven-game winning streak on home ice end, by a final score of 5-3 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon. The victory extended their season-high winning streak at five in a row. Goaltender Pheonix Copley made 27 saves in the win. The players’ fathers were in attendance for the first game of the Capitals’ annual fathers and mentors trip. The Rangers won nine of 11 before dropping to back-to-back games to the Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers by a 4-0 final yesterday at Wells Fargo Center.

Capitals Lines at Rangers

#Caps‘ lines vs NYR:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
13-Vrana, 20-Eller, 10-Connolly
65-Burakovsky, 72-Boyd, 25-Smith-Pelly
18-Stephenson, 26-Dowd, 23-Jaskin

6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 2-Niskanen
34-Siegenthaler, 29-Djoos

Copley vs. Georgiev. #CapsRangers

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) November 24, 2018

The Capitals went with the same lineup from their 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday afternoon except defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler took Madison Bowey’s spot on the third pair with Christian Djoos. Copley got the start after Braden Holtby made 31 saves against the Red Wings a day ago. Forwards T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov missed their fifth consecutive games with possible concussions; Kuznetsov traveled with the team to New York while Oshie did not.

Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev started for New York against the Capitals.

First Period

The Rangers scored 10:46 in on a Jimmy Vesey strike on a tic-tac-toe play at the doorstep for a 1-0 New York lead.

New York led 12-6 in shots, 14-9 in hits, 2-1 in blocked shots, and 4-3 in takeaways. The Rangers won 87% of the faceoffs and had four giveaways while the Capitals had 10.

Neither team scored on the power-play. The Capitals had two opportunities while the Rangers had one.

Second Period

Defenseman Brady Skjei scored from the point on the left side to extend the Rangers’ lead to 2-0 with 10:21 remaining the second period.

Center Nic Dowd tipped in defenseman John Carlson’s shot for his second of the season 31 seconds after Skjei scored to cut the Rangers lead in half.

Dowd gets a piece of the shot by Carly from the blue line! Rangers still up 2-1. #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/wNpKoOLdpx

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 24, 2018

Forward Jakub Vrana tied the game going top shelf on his backhand after beating forward Brett Howden down the left wing for a highlight-reel goal and his sixth of the season.

Vrana beats Howden in a footrace to ties us up at 2 here in the final minutes of the 2nd period! #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/PxmVp6CpQj

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 24, 2018

Captain Alex Ovechkin tipped Carlson’s shot in front of the net with 30 seconds left for a 3-2 Capitals lead. The goal marked his 17th goal of the season, including his fifth in as many games.

Another shot from Carly finds its way deflected in front, this time by Alex Ovechkin to put the #Caps up 3-2 #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/eBI08uSrp0

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 24, 2018

The Capitals led 15-9 in second-period shots and 6-5 in blocked shots after 40 minutes.

The Rangers led 8-4 in takeaways and 31-24 in hits after two periods of play. They also won 70% of the faceoffs through the second period.

Each team tallied 21 shots, 15 takeaways, and no power-play goals on two opportunities.

Third Period

Newly acquired center Ryan Strome scored on a wraparound attempt after Copley stopped defenseman Neal Pionk’s point shot to tie the game 5:30 into the final frame.

Forward Brett Connolly one-timed a shot from the left circle after receiving a cross-ice pass from Carlson with 6:24 remaining. Carlson’s assist on the goal was his third of the afternoon.

Connolly BURIES it up and we’re back in the lead, 4-3 #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/4ibhZvwnze

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 24, 2018

Forward Tom Wilson added an empty-netter from the left faceoff in the Washington end for a 5-3 lead and his third goal in as many games.

The Capitals led 11-8 in blocked shots and had 18 giveaways while New York had 23.

The Rangers led 30-28 in shots, including 9-7 in the third period, 8-5 in takeaways, and 42-33 in hits. They also won 64% of the faceoffs.

Each team did not score a power-play goal on two opportunities.

The Capitals conclude their annual fathers and mentors trip against former head coach Barry Trotz and the New York Islanders on Monday night. Action from Barclays Center in Brooklyn can be seen on NBC Sports Washington starting at 7 PM Eastern.

By Harrison Brown