However, in the previous two meetings, the «Capitals» had their main force — Alexander Ovechkin. For the third game, the captain of the “capital” was no longer able to show up due to damage to the lower body. Today's match against the “Rangers” was for the best Russian sniper in NHL history, the sixth missed this season. Coincidence or not, but «Washington» without their leader for the first time in the year lost to the club from New York.
Huge groundwork for success, “Rangers” have created in the first period, which they completed with a score of 3:1 in their favor. Notable were the first two goals of the Blueshirts. In the debut of the meeting, Vladimir Tarasenko, who entered the first link to Artemy Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, joined the counterattack and returned the puck to the Swede, who opened the scoring with the first shot. Ten minutes later, Zibanejad scored a brace, but this time from the pass of Panarin, who was led into the opponent's zone with an amazing pass by Igor Shesterkin.
It was Six who became one of the main characters of the match.
Firstly, this concerns his immediate area of responsibility. Let the Russian Rangers goalkeeper fail to keep the gates locked, but he made almost three dozen saves. A number of them are suitable for replenishment in the folder of the best and brightest rescues of the season. The stands of Madison Square Garden appreciated Igor's efforts and chanted his name throughout New York.
Secondly, as mentioned earlier, Shesterkin once again showed that he is useful not only in defending his own goal, but also in attacking others. Igor's assist on the Rangers second goal is a great example of how important it is for goaltenders to be able to read the game and see the court. Such a non-standard approach gives an advantage to the team and takes the opponent by surprise.
Thirdly, it is emotions. Shesterkin is known for his charisma and temperament. To endure the antics of enemies is not about the Russian goalkeeper. Today, Igor proved it again, when the forwards of “Washington” almost began to beat the goalkeeper, “Rangers” in an attempt to push the puck into the goal. Shesterkin, out of anger, even pulled the club out of the hands of the stubborn Alexei Protas and threw it far away, almost hitting it in the face of Artemy Panarin. Khleboushek dodged such a gift of fate at the last moment, while Shesterkin expressed his claims to the judges, who dragged him out with a whistle.
There were enough emotions in the match. Not without physical assault with the participation of Tom Wilson. The Washington Capitals forward, who has a grudge against the Rangers players, clung to the opportunity to fight, which Conor McGregor certainly liked. The Irish MMA fighter, in anticipation of his return to the octagon, decided to visit the game and saw at least some familiar elements of the game.
The Capitals, however, are not laughing. «Capital» suffered a third defeat in the last four matches and aggravated their position in the East. Perhaps the “Washington” have already come to terms with the fact that this season will be the first season for the club since 2014 without participation in the playoffs.