GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: NY RANGERS (16-14) at WASHINGTON (11-19)

NHL: NY RANGERS (16-14) at WASHINGTON (11-19)

<h3>Ovechkin, Capitals look for third straight win</h3>

<div class="pre">NY Rangers (16-12-2) at Washington (11-17-2) 7:00 pm EST</div>

WASHINGTON (Ticker) - All of a sudden, a meeting with theWashington Capitals doesn't look like such an easy win anymore.

Alex Ovechkin tries to lead the Capitals to their thirdconsecutive victory when they host New York Rangers onWednesday.


After going a miserable 3-10-2 over the month of November,Washington won three of its first four games to start December.Ovechkin has been a major reason for the turn around, compilingfour goals and nine points over his five-game point streak.

The 20-year-old rookie Niklas Backstrom is also starting to turnit around, notching two goals and three assists over the pastthree contests. He has three goals and 18 points on the season.

Henrik Lundqvist continued his stellar campaign, making 17 savesand logging his fifth shutout of the season as the Rangersended a three-game losing skid with a 1-0 overtime triumph overthe New Jersey Devils on Sunday.


Lundqvist is 15-11-1 with a 1.79 goals-against average and .925save percentage this season, anchoring the league's bestdefensive team. New York has yielded an NHL-low 65 goals.

The Rangers are also surrendering a conference-best 26.2 shotsper game.

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL AT WASHINGTON
STARTING GOALIES: NYR - HENRIK LUNDQVIST
WAS - OLAF KOLZIG

OFFICIALS: REF - DAN O'ROURKE, IAN WALSH
LIN - MARK PARE, MARK SHEWCHYK</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NY RANGERS VS WASHINGTON - SCRATCHES

NY RANGERS WASHINGTON

M MALIK HEALTHY M NYLANDER UNDISCLOSED
S AVERY LEFT WRIST M JURCINA HEALTHY
S EMINGER HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 0
WASHINGTON 0 19:55 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 0
WASHINGTON 0 16:20 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 0
WASHINGTON 0 11:00 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 1
WASHINGTON 0
1ST PRD: NYR - SCOTT GOMEZ 6 (PAUL MARA, BRENDAN SHANAHAN) 12:10</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 1
WASHINGTON 0 6:27 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 0
1ST PRD: NYR - MARTIN STRAKA 3 (JAROMIR JAGR, BRANDON DUBINSKY) 13:58</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 0 5:33 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 1
1ST PRD: WAS - JOE MOTZKO 1 (BROOKS LAICH, DONALD BRASHEAR) 15:51</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 1 2:00 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 1 0:00 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NY RANGERS 2 2
WASHINGTON 1 1 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NYR - SCOTT GOMEZ 6 (PAUL MARA, BRENDAN SHANAHAN) 12:10
NYR - MARTIN STRAKA 3 (JAROMIR JAGR, BRANDON DUBINSKY) 13:58
WAS - JOE MOTZKO 1 (BROOKS LAICH, DONALD BRASHEAR) 15:51

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NYR 7 7
WAS 18 18

GOALIES: NYR - HENRIK LUNDQVIST
WAS - OLAF KOLZIG</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">------------------------
Ny Rangers 2 --2
Washington 1 --1
------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ny Rangers, Scott Gomez 6 (Paul Mara,
Brendan Shanahan), 12:10. 2, Ny Rangers, Martin Straka 3 (Jaromir
Jagr, Brandon Dubinsky), 13:58. 3, Washington, Joe Motzko 1 (Brooks
Laich, Donald Brashear), 15:51. Penalties: C Orr, Nyr (major
fighting), 2:41; D Brashear, Was (major fighting), 2:41; B Shanahan,
Nyr (hooking), 8:02; B Dubinsky, Nyr (hooking), 18:30.

Shots on goal:
-----------------------------
Ny Rangers 7 --7
Washington 18 --18
-----------------------------

Goalies : Ny Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist (18 shots, 17 saves).
Washington, Olaf Kolzig (7 shots, 5 saves). Referees: Dan O'Rourke,
Ian Walsh. Linesmen: Mark Pare, Mark Shewchyk.</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 1 19:58 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 1 15:14 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 1 11:55 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 1 6:27 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: NY RANGERS at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL NY RANGERS 2
WASHINGTON 2
2ND PRD: WAS - JOE MOTZKO 2 (DONALD BRASHEAR, MIKE GREEN) 15:47</div>