Capitals fight but fail to sweep Rangers

The Washingotn Capitals fell to the New York Rangers 2-1 in Madison Square Garden as the teams split the weekend back to back, each squad winning on home ice. Caps won the day before.

Artemi Panarin struck first 50 seconds in and Alexis Lafreniere made it 2-0 Rangers with 50 seconds to go in the first. Charlie Lindgren got back to back starts and he didn't allow a goal the rest of the way.

Shots in the first period were 10-6 in favor of the Rangers so Lindgren had eight saves there. In the second the Caps outshot the Rangers 12-11 while they were outshot 10-7 in the third period as they failed to find the equalizer. Rangers led in shots overall 31-25.

T.J. Oshie put the Caps on the board at 11:03 in the second with a goal in his second straight game and fourth of the season. Oshie had the winner the day before. Dylan Strome and Max Pacioretty assisted on Oshie's goal.

The Caps will be back in action for two home games coming up on Tuesday and Thursday night. First up is the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday at 7. Then it's the St. Louis Blues Thursday same time.

After the game, Spencer Carbery told the media that were in New York that while the first period started ugly, he thought his Caps rebounded in the second and third.

"Loved our second period. Loved our third period. We had to kill a ton; penalty kill was great. I would have liked to have found a way to get that second one and potentially get on the power play a couple more times."

While the Caps did take one step forward Saturday and one step back on Sunday, they're still just three points back of the second and final wild card spot. This is far from over. It just started.