New York Rangers – Washington Capitals – 4:1 (1-0 in the series)
At the close of the regular season, the New York Rangers finished first and earned the Presidents’ Trophy. That success gives them home-ice advantage at every playoff round they can reach in 2024. They collected 114 points across 82 games, while Washington entered the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with 91 points.
Winning the regular season alone isn’t enough to guarantee a deep run. The Caps have claimed the Presidents’ Trophy era crown three times with Ovechkin in 2010, 2016, and 2017, but they have faltered in the playoffs, failing to advance beyond the second round in those seasons.
Washington’s only Stanley Cup title came in a season when they did not win the Presidents’ Trophy, contrasting with the Predators that year. That history weighs on the Capitals as they aim to navigate the postseason maze.
The last team to rack up a postseason run while also clinching a league-wide regular-season title and the playoff title was the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. Many experts believe the Rangers have built a roster capable of chasing the same double for 2024. Artemi Panarin, the standout star for the Blue Shirts, posted 120 points in the regular season and spoke about the mental grind teams face heading into the playoffs.
“I feel good, but a lot of pressure lies ahead. I need to forget the regular season and be ready for the playoffs. The goal is the Stanley Cup, and this is a team challenge as well as a personal one,” Panarin noted to reporters [citation].
For Washington, reaching the top 16 in the NHL standings qualifies as a significant accomplishment in a season marked by roster shifts due to trades and injuries. Alexander Ovechkin reached 31 goals, helping the team stay competitive and meet their postseason target. The Capitals’ coaching group, led by Spencer Carbery, marks its first playoff campaign, so expectations are modest within the franchise as they begin this series.
“Let’s forget this defeat and move on”
Washington’s late-season surge owed much to goalie Charlie Lindgren. His saves helped the Capitals clinch the playoff berth, and his performance would influence how long the team lasts in the postseason. In the opening moments against the Rangers, Washington lay a solid foundation: seven straight saves to start, and disciplined defense limited the Rangers’ power play opportunities, allowing the Capitals to reach the intermission tied at zero.
Two minutes into the second period, New York surged ahead as Matthew Rempe opened the scoring, followed by Artemi Panarin’s finish 33 seconds later. Jimmy Vesey added a third goal for the hosts soon after.
That 3:0 advantage suggested a decisive edge, but Washington answered quickly when defender Martin Fehervari closed the gap with a goal on Shesterkin. In the middle frame, Ovechkin had a prime power-play chance but chose a pass to a teammate instead of shooting, missing a golden opportunity to widen the momentum swing.
In the third, Washington pressed but managed only six shots on goal as the Rangers sealed the win with Chris Kreider finishing a one-on-one chance less than four minutes before the clock expired. The final tally stood at 4:1 in favor of New York.
After the game, Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin kept his message brief and focused, urging the team to shake off the loss and keep moving forward. Ovechkin did not register a shot on goal during the contest, finishing with a minus-one rating and two shots on net for the night.
“The first period went well. In the second period we made a few mistakes and they capitalized. But this is playoff hockey. Everyone must elevate their play, so let’s forget this defeat and move on,” Ovechkin commented.
With this victory, the Rangers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the series. The next game rolls into New York and is scheduled for the night of April 24, with a 2:00 a.m. start time local to Vancouver in this transcription window. Fans in the U.S. and Canada will tune in to see if New York can extend the edge and take control of the series.