Zibanejad scores twice, Rangers hold off Capitals

Mika Zibanejad scored twice for the New York Rangers in a 5-3 win against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday.

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (38-19-10), who have won three of their past four games. Vincent Trocheck had two assists, and Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves and had an assist in the opener of a five-game homestand.
"I think we came out strong, played fast," Zibanejad said. "It's important we get a good feeling coming back home. It wasn't a perfect game all the way through, but I thought we did a lot of good things, a lot of things we can build on going forward."

The Rangers are in third place in the Metropolitan Division, eight points behind the second-place New Jersey Devils, who lost 4-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Matt Irwin had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (32-29-7), who have lost three of four (1-2-1) and host the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. Darcy Kuemper made 31 saves.
Washington is five points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"We just didn't do things quick enough," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. "We didn't break pucks out quick enough. We held on to it too long. We didn't attack open ice. We didn't make the pass when the pass was there. You end up getting checked and things turn over."
Washington played without forwards Alex Ovechkin (lower-body injury) and Sonny Milano (non-COVID illness).
Asked if there's a chance Ovechkin or Milano will be available Wednesday, Laviolette said, "I have no idea. Whatever our lineup is, it's got to be ready, and we've got to win a game."
Zibanejad made it 1-0 at 4:09 of the first period, taking a return pass from Vladimir Tarasenko on a give-and-go and scoring on a one-timer from the slot.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel tied it 1-1 at 14:29 when he scored on a wrist shot through a screen from the right circle.
Zibanejad gave New York a 2-1 lead 16 seconds later at 14:45. Shesterkin floated a long pass up ice that sent Artemi Panarin and Zibanejad in on a 2-on-1, and Zibanejad scored on a backhand off a pass from Panarin.

Kane made it 3-1 at 18:46, scoring a power-play goal on a slap shot from the point. It was his third goal in six games and first at home since being traded to the Rangers from the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 28.
"Still some room to build, but there was some chances tonight," Kane said. "I thought our line had some good possessions and just keep building here, keep trying to get more and more comfortable."
New York outshot Washington 19-9 in the first period.
"That first period was as good a period as we've played all year," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "Nineteen shots, three goals. Just the way we played. We did everything right."
Jacob Trouba increased the lead to 4-1 at 4:09 of the second period, scoring from the left circle off a pass across the slot from Trocheck.

Irwin pulled the Capitals within 4-2 at 12:08, receiving a behind-the-back pass from T.J. Oshie and beating Shesterkin far side from the left circle.
Nic Dowd made it 4-3 at 11:48 of the third period, knocking in his own rebound seconds after a Washington power play ended, but Jimmy Vesey lofted a backhand from the defensive zone into an empty net at 17:49 for the 5-3 final.
"Getting behind three goals is tough, but I thought we were right there in it," Dowd said. "We gave ourselves a chance to win that game. I thought we outplayed them the majority of the game minus that first maybe 10-12 minutes."
NOTES: It was Zibanejad's ninth multi-goal game of the season. He has 20 points in his past 18 games (12 goals, eight assists). … Kane has 400 NHL power-play points (124 goals, 276 assists). … Shesterkin reached 30 wins for the second consecutive season, the first Rangers goalie to do so since Henrik Lundqvist (four seasons, 2013-14 - 2016-17). … The Capitals are 0-6-0 without Ovechkin, getting outscored 27-12. … Washington forward Dylan Strome (assist) extended his point streak to five games (three goals, five assists). … Rasmus Sandin (assist) set a record for most assists (eight) in a player's first five games with the Capitals, previously held by Geoff Courtnall (six in 1988-89).