N.Y. Rangers: Alex Ovechkin Lowers Iron Curtain on Artemi Panarin and the Blueshirts

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

ALEX OVECHKIN

Photo: 2008 Playoffs vs. Rangers

FRIDAY

Rangers  1

Capitals 2

FINAL

At 13:18 of the third period, Alex Ovechkin scored his 13th goal of the season.  Three minutes and nine seconds later, he would score again, giving the Caps a 2-1 lead and Washington's final margin of victory.  

Ovechkin's patented one-timer from the left circle - that unmistakable shot we've witnessed now for sixteen years, one of the singularly greatest NHL mental snapshots of all-time - played a part in neither goal against the Rangers.

In fact, these were of the variety even Phil Esposito would be proud of.  Positioned in front and boxing out Blueshirts, Ovechkin twice cleaned up loose rebounds for goal #719 and #720 of his illustrious career.  He recently passed former Boston Bruins and New York Rangers favorite and Hall of Famer Phil Esposito who's 717 goals now rank seventh all-time.  Fifth on the all-time list is Marcel Dionne, with 731 goals.  That puts Ovechkin eleven goals away from tying Dionne with 26 regular-season games left to play.

717 Career Goals; 184 w/ Rangers

Coming off an impressive 9-0 shutout of the Flyers, Alexandar Georgiev faced just 18 shots on goal.  He stopped all but two.  After making initial saves, he left two free-range rebounds in front with nary a Blueshirt around to contest Alex Ovechkin, who easily cleaned up.  

Meanwhile, the Rangers peppered Washington goalie Vitek Vanecek with 33 shots who stopped all but one, a power-play goal by Artemi Panarin at 16:42 of the first period.  It was his eighth goal in 18 games this season.  Moreover, Panarin has registered seven points in his last four games since returning from Russia.

This was Washington's first defeat of the Rangers in three games.