NY Rangers fall 4-1 to Washington Capitals, get careless with the puck and pay for it on John Mitchell, Brad Richards turnovers

Rangers fans who wanted to see a victory Wednesday night were forced to wait until HBO aired its third episode of 24/7 at 10 p.m.
?
That?s because the Blueshirts laid an egg at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., falling to the Capitals, 4-1, and snapping a five-game winning streak against the team that has eliminated them in the first round of the playoffs two of the last three seasons.
?
The cable network?s Winter Classic preview was poised to show last week?s victories over the Devils, Islanders and Flyers, but it didn?t have tape of Wednesday?s turnovers by John Mitchell and Brad Richards at the offensive blue line that led to both of Washington?s second period goals.
?
The Capitals (18-15-2) - who are more than acclimated to the HBO cameras after starring on the inaugural series last winter with Pittsburgh - took a 3-1 lead going into the third on Troy Brouwer?s deflection of a John Carlson slapper and Alexander Semin?s breakaway backhander over the shoulder of Martin Biron (19 saves).
?
Ryan Callahan appeared to have narrowed the deficit to 3-2 on a power play with 7:59 to play in the third period, but replays showed Callahan?s skate in a kicking motion, redirecting the rebound of a Richards shot past Tomas Vokuon (31 saves).
?
Then Semin scored his second goal of the night on Alex Ovechkin?s second assist with 2:35 to play to ice it, after Brian Boyle's giveaway.
?
The loss could drop the Rangers (22-9-4) out of the top spot in the Eastern Conference if Boston were to win in Phoenix in a 9 p.m. start out in Glendale, Ariz. The Blueshirts will fly to Florida to face the Panthers on Friday before heading to Philadelphia for Monday?s Winter Classic against the Flyers.
?
Wednesday, John Tortorella gave Biron his ninth start in 35 games, remaining committed to the schedule he believes will keep No. 1 Henrik Lundqvist most prepared for a playoff run if the Rangers can punch their ticket in the spring.
?
Biron (7-2-0) did not play his best game, continuing a disturbing trend of surrendering long rebounds. He could not control Jeff Halpern?s first period slapper, leading to Marcus Johansson?s rebound putback that made it 1-0 eight minutes into the game. Still, that play began with Michael Del Zotto mishandling the puck in the neutral zone, creating a giveaway to Halpern and a clean shot.
?
The second goal was not Biron?s fault at all, as Brouwer?s screen obstructed his view of the shot. And Richards? turnover, when Alex Ovechkin leveled the Rangers center and jarred the puck loose, led to a long Nicklas Backstrom pass that put Semin one-on-one with the Blueshirts goaltender.
?
With fewer than three minutes to play in the first period, Brandon Dubinsky tied the game 1-1 with a wrister on a two-on-one over the shoulder of Vokuon, who made his first start since Dec. 13. Callahan assisted on the goal after one of his four blocked shots deflected into the neutral zone to Dubinsky.
?
The Rangers, however, lost all momentum going into the second period. The first had to kill the end of a Caps power play from Stu Bickel?s high-sticking penalty. Then Washington?s speed started to take over, as even speedy Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh was turned around on a few rushes. The Blueshirts? shifts started to get longer, as they struggled to get off the ice on big Capitals rushes. And carelessness with the puck ultimately cost them.
?
Defenseman Jeff Woywitka recovered from a sore left foot that kept him out for four games and went back into the lineup Wednesday night, replacing rookie Tim Erixon. Tortorella said Erixon, who has played 13 games for the Rangers this season on three separate recalls from the AHL, is headed back to the Connecticut Whale after Wednesday?s game as long as the Blueshirts are healthy traveling south to Florida for Friday?s game against the Panthers.

Have a question about the Blueshirts or a comment? Find Pat on Twitter at @NYDNRangers.

&nbsp?

Share

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/rangers/2011/12/ny-rangers-fall-4-1-to-washington-capitals-get-careless-with-the-puck-and-pay-for-it

student loan forgiveness amy winehouse cause of death amy winehouse cause of death white witch white witch occupy san francisco occupy san francisco