New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Marek Malik scored the game-winning goal in
the 15th round of the shootout to lift the
New York Rangers to a 3-2 win over
the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden in the longest game in the
NHL this season.
Jason Ward and Jed Ortmeyer both scored goals and Henrik Lundqvist made 35
saves and stopped 12-of-15 in the shootout for the Rangers, who have a season-
high five-game winning streak.
Chris Clark and Brian Willsie both tallied scores and Olaf Kolzig stopped 24
of 26 shots and 11-of-15 in the shootout for Washington, which has lost three
straight.
Malik pulled the puck and stick between his legs and flipped it over Kolzig
for the game-winner. Each time Washington went ahead in the shootout, New
York answered. In round No. 14, Bryan Muir scored to Lundqvist's stick side to
put the Capitals up by a goal.
"Everybody before me tried everything possible," Malik said. "I tried it a
couple of times in practice and it was fun. Everybody tried everything, you
know? Basically, nothing worked and maybe that would surprise him a bit. It
did and it worked."
But Jason Strudwick forced another round after he beat Kolzig over his right
pad. After Matt Bradley was stoned by Lundqvist's left pad, Malik provided
the heroics for New York.
"That's just something you see in practice usually," Kolzig said. "You got to
give the guy credit. I just had to stop Jason Studwick and I didn't. I think
we deserved better than an overtime or shoot out loss though."
The Rangers drew first blood with 2:44 left in the first period after Ward
stole the puck from Muir along the left boards and beat Kolzig through the
five hole with a wrist shot from the slot for a shorthanded tally to give New
York a 1-0 lead.
New York upped its lead to 2-0 just 14 seconds into the second period after
Ortmeyer jammed the puck through a scrum in front and past Kolzig. Dominic
Moore gained the zone and went right in on Kolzig in an attempt to stuff the
puck through the five hole. Kolzig made the save, but the rebound sat on the
doorstep for Ortmeyer, who was charging the net through the slot.
The Capitals got on the scoreboard with 3:32 gone in the second period after
Jamie Heward took a slap shot from the right point that caromed off Clark in
front and past Lundqvist to make a 2-1 contest.
"I am just happy to get two points," Lundqvist said. "We are happy for Malik
that he scored."
Washington netted the equalizer midway through the second period after Willsie
knocked the puck into a gaping net from on the doorstep. Matt Pettinger
charged the net and tried to stuff the puck past Lundqvist but he made the
stop. Pettinger and a Rangers defenseman slammed into Lundqvist, who couldn't
get back in time to stop Willsie's shot.
Entering overtime, Washington asked the referees to check Jaromir Jagr's
stick to see if the curve on the blade was legal. The referees ruled that
Jagr, who used to play for Washington, was using an illegal stick, giving the
Capitals a two-minute 4-on-3 power play. But New York killed the penalty to
set up the shootout.
Game Notes
Jagr had a four-game point streak halted...Washington had a two-game
winning streak over the Rangers snapped...Each of New York's 10 goals in
the last three games have come at even strength as the power play has
gone 0-for-16...Alexander Ovechkin, the Capitals leading scorer, has no
goals in a season-high four straight games...Washington has a 3-1-1-1
record, including Saturday's shootout loss, against the Rangers since dealing
Jagr to New York, with all six games being decided by one goal...The Capitals
fell to 2-9-1 on the road, while the Rangers improved to 8-2-2 at home.
