Capitals–Rangers rivalry
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2024) |
First meeting | October 9, 1974[1] |
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Latest meeting | April 23, 2024 |
Next meeting | April 26, 2024 |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 301 |
All-time series | 145–130–18–8 (WSH) |
Regular season series | 117–101–18–8 (WSH) |
Postseason results | 29–28 (NYR) |
Largest victory | NYR 11–4 WSH February 18, 1976 March 24, 1978 WSH 8–1 NYR April 19, 1986 NYR 7–0 WSH December 12, 2010 |
Longest win streak | WSH W7 |
Current win streak | NYR W1 |
Postseason history | |
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The Capitals–Rangers rivalry is a National Hockey League (NHL) rivalry between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers. Both teams compete in the NHL's Eastern Conference's Metropolitan Division, and there is only a 230-mile drive between the cities of Washington, D.C. and New York. The rivalry gained traction in the 1990s but intensified from 2009 to 2015 with five head-to-head playoff series during that span.[2][3][4]
1980s
With the League realigning to configure the new teams from the WHA, the Capitals were subsequently placed into the Patrick Division, the same division as the Rangers. However, the Capitals still struggled to make the playoffs finishing last in the division each year until 1983, where they finally made the playoffs for the first time in their history. The Rangers meanwhile were making the playoffs, but fell each year to the New York Islanders (except 1980).[5] The Capitals, as well, lost to the Islanders each year until 1986.[6]
During the 1986 playoffs, the two teams met for the first time in the playoffs. During the Patrick Division Final of these two rivals, the teams split the first four games before the Rangers took games five and six to win the series.[7] The Rangers' season came to an end when they were defeated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens in the Wales Conference final in five games.
1990s
The teams met in the Patrick Division Final in 1990 with the Rangers winning the division title and beating their
The next year, the two met in the division semifinals. The Rangers took games one and three 2–1 and 6–0 respectively. The Capitals took the next three games to defeat the Rangers in six games, but the Capitals lost against the eventual Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins.
On December 26, 1991, the Rangers pulled off the greatest comeback in franchise history. After trailing the Capitals 6–1 near the end first period, the Rangers managed to score seven unanswered goals to win the game 8–6.[8] In 1992, both teams made the playoffs with the top two regular season records, but both lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins who won another Stanley Cup that year.
In 1994, the two would meet for the last time until 2009. The Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy that year and swept the Islanders in the first round while the Capitals defeated the Penguins in six games. The Rangers took the first three games easily before the Capitals stayed alive by winning game four. The Rangers then took game five and became the eventual Stanley Cup champions, their first since 1940.
2000s
With the 1998 realignment moving the Capitals into the Southeast Division, and both teams struggling to make the playoffs until 2007, the rivalry died down. However, the emergence of Alexander Ovechkin for the Capitals has allowed his team to reenter the playoffs after a three-year drought.
In 2009, the two teams met for the first time in the playoffs since 1994. The Rangers took a 3–1 series lead in the conference quarterfinals after seeing the Capitals struggle in the first four games. However, the Capitals then dominated the rest of the series, outscoring the Rangers 11–4, and winning the series in seven. The Capitals faced the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins again, losing this time in seven games.
2010s
In 2010, the Rangers did not make the playoffs but the Capitals, even though they won the Presidents' Trophy, lost in the first round after giving up a 3–1 series lead to the Montreal Canadiens.
In 2011, the teams met in the first round of the playoffs, with the Rangers as the eighth seed and the Capitals first overall in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals would win the series in five games but would be swept in the next round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Notably, the Capitals came back from a three-goal deficit in game 4 that would have otherwise tied the series.
In 2012, the teams met in the conference semifinals, with the Rangers being the first in the east and the Capitals as seventh. The Rangers had come off a hard-fought series against the Ottawa Senators while the Capitals had defeated the Stanley Cup-defending Bruins in seven games. The Rangers won every odd-numbered game in the series including a triple overtime win in game three, and a crucial game five where Capitals' Joel Ward took a double-minor penalty for high-sticking Rangers forward Carl Hagelin with 21.3 seconds remaining. The Rangers took full advantage of that double-minor with Brad Richards scoring the game-tying goal with 6.6 seconds remaining, and then carried the momentum and the second half of the double-minor into overtime as Marc Staal scored the game winner at 1:35 into the extra period. The Rangers would be defeated by their cross-river rivals, the New Jersey Devils.
In 2013, the Rangers and Capitals met in the first round. The home team won the first five games, thus allowing the Capitals to take a 3–2 series lead. However, the Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist shutout the Capitals in games six and seven to win the series.
In 2014, the conferences and divisions were realigned placing the Capitals back into the same division as the Rangers.
In 2015, the Rangers and Capitals met in second round of the playoffs after the Capitals missed the previous year. The Capitals stormed to a 3–1 series lead with help from their goaltender
2020s
The rivalry heated on May 3, 2021, when Capitals forward
The two teams are set to meet again in the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.[15]
See also
References
- ^ "Series Records : Washington Capitals(H) against New York Rangers(A)". mcubed.net. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ Vingan, Adam (October 16, 2013). "Playoff battles have shaped Rangers-Capitals rivalry". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L. P. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
- ^ Lozo, Dave (January 19, 2014). "Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers: Inside One of the NHL's Best Rivalries". BleacherReport.com. Bleacher Report, Inc. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ Rappaport, Michael (February 23, 2023). "Rivalries to Remember". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L. P. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ "New York Rangers Historical Statistics and All Time Top Leaders". hockey-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ "Washington Capitals Historical Statistics and All Time Top Leaders". hockey-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ "Washington Capitals - New York Rangers - April 27th, 1986". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L. P. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ Paulus, Steve (December 26, 2020). "On December 26 in NYR history: Down 5 goals, the biggest comeback ever". BlueLineStation.com. Minute Media. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ "Capitals coach on Alex Ovechkin's win guarantee: 'I love that'". FOXSports.com. Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. May 11, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ "Wilson fined maximum for actions in Capitals game against Rangers". NHL.com. NHL Enterprise,s L. P. May 4, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (May 4, 2021). "New York Rangers' statement calls Tom Wilson's non-suspension "a dereliction of duty" by NHL's George Parros". TheComeback.com. www.TheComeback.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ Ben Morse (May 7, 2021). "Huge brawl mars hockey game as controversy continues". CNN. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ^ "Fist Period: Caps, Rangers fight right out of gate". ESPN.com. ESPN Enterprises Inc. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
- ^ "Rangers fined $250,000 for comments on Player Safety director Parros". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L. P. May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ^ Page, Matthew (April 16, 2024). "Rangers First Round Matchup With Washington Capitals Set – Waiting For Schedule". The Hockey News. Retrieved April 17, 2024.