GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: WASHINGTON (3-0) at NY RANGERS (1-2)

NHL: WASHINGTON (3-0) at NY RANGERS (1-2)

<h3>Capitals aim to continue hot start</h3>

<div class="pre">Washington (3-0-0) at NY Rangers (1-2-0) 7:00 pm EDT</div>

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Early in the season, the Washington Capitalsrate as one of the NHL most surprising teams.


The Capitals seek their first 4-0 start in 10 years on Fridaywhen they visit the New York Rangers.


In its last game, Washington beat the New York Islanders, 2-1,on Monday to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2002-03 -the last season the team made the playoffs.


Since then, the Capitals have finished in last place. Their only4-0 start in franchise history time came in 1997-98. The threeprevious times Washington started 3-0 it made the playoffs.

Viktor Kozlov, who scored a career-high 25 goals with theIslanders last season before signing with the Capitals, is tiedwith Alexander Ovechkin for the team lead in scoring with threepoints.


The key to Washington's strong start has been its improved playon defense as the Capitals have allowed only two goals, oneseason after they ranked 26th in the league with a 3.35goals-against average. Washington has killed off all 12 of itsshorthanded situations.


The Rangers return home after scoring only one goal in roadlosses to Ottawa and the New York Islanders. Defenseman FedorTyutin scored the lone goal in the two games.


While the Capitals have yet to allow a power-play goal, New Yorkis 0-for-15 with the man advantage.


The Rangers also need their big guns to get going. Jaromir Jagr,Brendan Shanahan and Scott Gomez still have not scored theirfirst goals of the season.

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

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

OFFICIALS: REF - MARC JOANNETTE, ROB MARTELL
LIN - GREG DEVORSKI, MARK SHEWCHYK</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

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

WASHINGTON NY RANGERS

B GORDON SICK J STRUDWICK HEALTHY
A SEMIN ANKLE INJURY T POCK HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

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

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
NY RANGERS 0 18:40 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
NY RANGERS 1
1ST PRD: NYR - (PP) SCOTT GOMEZ 1 (BRENDAN SHANAHAN, JAROMIR JAGR)
1:33</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
NY RANGERS 1 17:33 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
NY RANGERS 1 17:00 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
NY RANGERS 1 14:40 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
NY RANGERS 1 14:30 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
NY RANGERS 1 13:37 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
NY RANGERS 1 11:50 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
NY RANGERS 1
1ST PRD: WAS - (PP) ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 2 (MIKE GREEN, TOM POTI) 7:47</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
NY RANGERS 1 10:25 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
NY RANGERS 1 7:50 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
NY RANGERS 1 7:26 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
NY RANGERS 2
1ST PRD: NYR - (PP) MARTIN STRAKA 2 (JAROMIR JAGR) 13:26</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
NY RANGERS 2 5:36 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
NY RANGERS 2 3:20 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
NY RANGERS 3
1ST PRD: NYR - (PP) MICHAL ROZSIVAL 2 (JAROMIR JAGR, CHRIS DRURY)
17:59</div>