CAPITALS-RANGERS REPORT CARD

Published April 26, 2009 4:00am ET



First Star

D Tom Poti is still a reviled figure in New York dating to his three-and-a-half years as a Ranger. But has made Garden faithful pay for their jeers with two goals and four assists in series. Had a goal and three assists Sunday.

Second Star

Alex Ovechkin spent the final minutes of warm-ups practicing deflections with teammates Mike Green and Alexander Semin. The extra work paid off when he deflected home a point shot by Poti in the second to put the game away at 5-1.

Third Star

The Rangers aren’t good a man up. But at least give Caps some credit on penalty kill. David Steckel helped hold New York to 1-for-6 during their 5-on-4 PPs. He also added a pair of assists in the first period — just his second two-point night of the season.

Oops!

Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist has looked shaky the last two games. He gave up a bad-angle goal again on Sunday — this time to Caps D Milan Jurcina at 7:09 of the first period to give Washington a 1-0 lead. 

From the Bench

» Caps coach Bruce Boudreau kept his lines intact, including the Brooks Laich-David Steckel-Matt Bradley unit that was so effective Friday. F Michael Nylander, D Jeff Schultz and F Chris Clark were again scratched.

» With John Tortorella suspended, Jim Schoenfeld needed someone on the bench with him. Coaches Ken Gernander and J.J. Daigneault were called up from AHL Hartford to help.