The saying should go: If you can’t join ’em, beat ’em.
That’s how the Rangers went about their business in a back-to-back slate this weekend against two teams in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild-card race.
After defeating the Red Wings on Saturday afternoon, the Blueshirts handily took a 7-1 win over the Capitals on Sunday night in what was an extremely consequential game for Washington.
The Blueshirts were officially eliminated from playoff contention over a week and a half ago, but they’ve been playing better hockey and winning more than they have all season long.
Sunday’s win counted as their fifth in the past six games. More than that, it marked their largest win of the season.
The Rangers are playing like a team that’s on the same page.
The young players have made a world of difference in the lineup and in the locker room.
They’re fighting — literally and figuratively — for the Rangers crest and for each other.
While Adam Fox led the Rangers with a goal and two assists, Will Cuylle finished the game one assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick. The 24-year-old wing scored two of the Rangers’ five goals in the second period before he dropped the gloves with Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun.
The team was looking to set him up for the hat trick, but it never came to fruition.
In addition to Cuylle, Tye Kartye and Noah Laba also dropped their gloves during the contentious matchup.
Conor Sheary may have had the slowest start of any Ranger, but he’s finishing strong.
Notching his sixth goal since March 10, the 33-year-old cleaned up a loose puck in front to open the scoring 23 seconds into the game. It counted as Sheary’s third goal in the past five games, as well as his 17th point of the season through his 58 games.
His line with J.T. Miller and Kartye has been an active unit since coming together 10 games ago.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the trio has been on the ice for seven Rangers goals and six against. Their 52.08 expected goals percentage during 5-on-5 play indicates a strong offensive presence.
Sheary, Miller and Kartye were on the ice for the Capitals’ 1-1 score at the 13:45 mark of the first period, when Tom Wilson sprung Connor McMichael for a breakaway goal.
The Rangers, however, owned the second period.
More than doubling Washington’s shots on goal in the middle frame, 16-7, the home team exploded for five goals. Two scores on the power play bookended the surge, with Miller registering his 17th goal of the season before Adam Fox capped the lopsided period.
