Preview: Rangers (22-15) at Capitals (31-8)
Date: January 17, 2016 5:00 PM EDT
The Washington Capitals stunned the New York Rangers last week with a dramatic comeback to continue rolling. They're trying to bounce back from a different kind of surprising effort.
Less than 24 hours after losing to one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference, the Capitals will try to extend their home winning streak to 12 games Sunday against the Rangers.
Washington (33-8-3) owns the most points in the NHL and has won the last two matchups with New York (24-15-5). The most recent meeting, though, seemed headed in the Rangers' favor as the Capitals blew a two-goal, third-period lead. However, Nicklas Backstrom forced overtime by scoring with 5.7 seconds left in regulation, and Alex Ovechkin converted Washington's first shot in the extra session of the 4-3 road win last Saturday.
The Capitals won their next two games to push their run to five before that streak unexpectedly ended with Saturday's 4-1 loss at Buffalo
"We didn't invest enough to win a hockey game," coach Barry Trotz said. "We were really easy on them in the first. We didn't touch anybody, we just played."
Washington, 21-3-2 since Nov. 21, isn't having any such issues at home, where it's won 11 straight games while averaging 4.09 goals. It's the club's longest home winning streak since a franchise-record 13-game run from Jan. 5-March 6, 2010.
Ovechkin has 10 goals during the current streak, and his 26 on the season are tied with Dallas' Jamie Benn for second - two behind Patrick Kane of Chicago. The All-Star left wing has 10 goals during an eight-game regular-season scoring streak against the Rangers, netting a pair at New York last week.
Ovechkin, though, was held to three tallies as the Caps lost to New York in seven games of a second-round playoff series last year.
While Henrik Lundqvist posted a 1.65 goals-against average in that series, he's surrendered nine goals on 55 shots over the last two against Washington this season.
That could be partly why he's expected to be rested in favor of Antti Raanta, who is 0-2-1 with a 3.16 GAA in his last four starts after winning his first four with a 1.25 GAA.
Raanta is also slated to get the call since Lundqvist made 34 saves while turning aside all three shootout attempts in a 3-2 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.
"You need a goaltender's 'A' game and there's no doubt we got (Lundqvist's) 'A' game," coach Alain Vigneault said.
New York has alternated wins and losses over the last nine games, going 5-3-1 since losing 7-3 to Washington at home on Dec. 20.
Chris Kreider had a goal in that meeting but went without one in his next six games before finding the net Saturday. He scored twice in the most recent visit to Washington, leading the Rangers to a 4-3 win in Game 6 on May 10.
That's the last time Rick Nash scored against the Capitals, getting just one assist in four overall matchups since. He's failed to score in six straight games as his 12 goals are a far cry from his career-high 42 from last season.
It's unknown if the Rangers will have to contend with Braden Holtby, who was pulled midway through the second period Saturday after giving up three goals on 16 shots. He was 20-0-2 with a 1.85 GAA over his previous 23 games, including both matchups at New York.
Philipp Grubauer replaced him Saturday and stopped 12 of 13 shots. He's 2-1-0 with a 2.62 GAA against the Rangers, last facing them in January 2014.
