Kuznetsov, Capitals defeat Rangers to end 6-game losing streak

WASHINGTON --Evgeny Kuznetsov had two goals and two assists, and the Washington Capitals ended a six-game losing streak with a 6-3 win against the New York Rangers at Capital One Arena on Saturday.

T.J. Oshie had two goals and an assist, and Tom Wilson had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (29-26-6), who had scored 10 goals during their streak. Alex Ovechkin and Erik Gustafsson each had two assists, and Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves.
"Sometimes it's one of those games -- divisional opponent coming in and big rivalry, emotional game -- sometimes those are the ones that you know, a team comes together," Wilson said. "We showed up ready to play, and that can be a momentum builder. We've just got to keep moving forward here in the right direction, but that was a great effort."

Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist, and Mika Zibanejad had two assists for the Rangers (33-17-9), who have lost four straight (0-3-1). Igor Shesterkin allowed five goals on 22 shots and was replaced at the start of the third period by Jaroslav Halak, who made four saves in relief.
"Defensively we were awful," New York coach Gerard Gallant said. "To give up those scoring chances, I mean how many odd-man rushes, how many breakaways? We were more focused on trying to score goals than defend some goals, and we give them way too many chances."
Oshie gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 4:25 of the first period when he deflected Gustafsson's shot in the slot during a power play.
Barclay Goodrow tied it 1-1 at 8:00, deflecting Tyler Motte's shot from along the left boards past Kuemper.
Oshie put the Capitals back in front 2-1 at 3:16 of the second period, taking a pass from Dylan Strome on the rush and scoring glove side from the slot.
Oshie had scored two goals in his previous 10 games.
"We've been working real hard regardless of if we've been winning or losing, but working the right way and working for each other, and tonight was no different," Oshie said. "You need your big players to step up. I get paid a lot of money to put offense up on the board, and haven't been doing it as of late, so it felt good to get a couple up there."

Wilson pushed it to 3-1 at 7:05. He received a pass from Trevor van Riemsdyk and skated between Rangers defensemen Adam Fox and Niko Mikkola before beat Shesterkin from in close.
After Oshie hit the post on the rush, Sonny Milano knocked in the loose puck to make it 4-1 at 12:52.
Kuznetsov extended the lead to 5-1 with a backhand on a breakaway at 18:19.
"I think when we're giving up too many chances defensively, (and) that kind of leads to not really getting in a groove offensively," Rangers captain Jacob Trouba said. "It all kind of mixes together, so once we start taking care of the puck better, just giving up too many opportunities, we'll get it back."
Kreider made it 5-2 with a deflecction of Fox's shot on a power play at 6:49 of the third period.
Kuznetsov scored on a breakaway at 13:22 to make it 6-2, and Kaapo Kakko scored at 19:32 for the 6-3 final.
"I just talked to my dad yesterday," Kuznetsov said. "He's here, so I was like, 'Usually I got like six, seven breakaways a year and I got zero this year.' So I felt I just talked about that stuff with him the day before, and today I got two breakaways, so it's a process."
NOTES: The Rangers traded forward Vitali Kravtsov to the Vancouver Canucks for forward William Lockwood and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft before the game. ... Kreider has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his past 11 games. ... Gustafsson has 10 assists in his past nine games. … Kuemper is 8-1-0 in his career against the Rangers. ... New York defenseman Ryan Lindgren left the game with an upper-body injury in the first period after he was checked into the boards by Oshie. Gallant said Lindgren is day to day and he will know more about his condition Sunday.