Ovechkin scores (twice!), Rempe fails in Rangers' ugly return to DC: 3 takeaways

This game had a little bit of everything except a solid performance from the New York Rangers.

Alex Ovechkin scored two goals, Matt Rempe struggled in his return to the NHL after a brief minor league stint and the Rangers allowed three goals – all in the first 8:58 minutes of the game. The Rangers' first trip back to Washington since defeating the Capitals in the opening round of the 2024 playoffs was a sloppy affair, one of the very few ugly stretches the team has had so far this season.

Despite allowing four goals, Igor Shesterkin was the Rangers' star with 41 saves. The Rangers played one game after that poor start, but were defeated 5-3 by a Caps team that surprisingly started 6-2-0 this season and was just one point behind the Rangers.

Some problem areas that were obscured by the Rangers' overall good first eight games resurfaced on Tuesday. Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider lost coverage on Caps goals in the first period and haven't looked good in five-on-five play this season. K'Andre Miller was forced off the lead with Adam Fox in the third period on Tuesday after some glaring errors that led to Caps goals. Miller was reunited with Jacob Trouba in the third round and Ryan Lindgren took his place alongside Fox for the first time this year.

The Will Cuylle-Filip Chytil-Kaapo Kakko line stood out, scoring two goals and extending their streak of not being on the ice when conceding a goal to nine games.

A few key takeaways from a night where the Rangers mostly failed:

Ovi gets two, but Shesterkin almost steals one

Ovechkin scored just two goals in his 12 career games against Shesterkin on Tuesday, but doubled that number in a span of 1:47 early in the first game. Both goals came on Rangers turnovers in the defensive zone, with Ovechkin firing one of his signature wrist shots through Lindgren and then Shesterkin, followed by an open look into the corner after Miller turned the puck over on the wall, leaving room for a two-on-one. Caps left -one deep down.

This gives Ovechkin 857 career goals, 37 behind Wayne Gretzky. Shesterkin allowed two more goals when he was redirected by angled passes from unguarded Caps behind him, but even while allowing that many, Shesterkin made a half-dozen stunning saves to keep the ball close in the second and third periods.

One of his best points was a glove stop on Connor McMichael late in the third period, keeping the score at 4-3 as Shesterkin ducked low to look through the crowd. It was McMichael's tenth shot on goal of the game.

Despite conceding four goals, Igor Shesterkin made 41 saves against Washington. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)

Welcome back, Rempe!

During Rempe's weekend in Hartford, he played a lot of minutes at center, trying to keep the 22-year-old fresh and learning. Five seconds into his first shift Tuesday, he was back to doing what he does best.

The big winger dropped the gloves with Caps defenseman Dylan McIlrath. Those two battled in the AHL in November 2022, and McIlrath, who made the Caps after 618 AHL games this season, certainly seemed to set a date with Rempe during warmups. Rempe received a cut on his cheek for his troubles in this fight.

In the end, Rempe only played 5:01. We'll see what Peter Laviolette has in mind for the weekend when the Rangers take on the Senators and Islanders.

Miller and Zibanejad fight

Miller's basic numbers have been solid so far this season, and the Rangers entering Tuesday's game at 6-1-1 means hardly anyone on the team has had a truly difficult start to this year. But playing alongside Fox puts the greatest strain on a defender, and Miller needs to play more physically and simply to coach Fox. There were two bad incidents for No. 79 on Tuesday that likely led to him playing the final 20 minutes with Trouba.

The loss of the ball on the sidewall that led to Ovechkin's second goal was a bad interpretation and then a bad reaction. Miller was also slow away from the wall, allowing Aliaksei Protas to position himself for a tap-in in a four-on-four duel to make it 4-2 in the second period. Miller's skill set didn't necessarily include quick decision-making, and he was lacking in those two.

It wouldn't be a surprise if Laviolette joined Lindgren-Fox and Miller-Trouba for a while. What the coach can do with Zibanejad is a tougher question.

The nominal No. 1 center scored his seventh point on Tuesday on Kreider's second-period goal, but Zibanejad's real pride is his 200-foot game, particularly at five-on-five. He was caught watching from the wall for Ovechkin's second goal, and was unable to catch anyone later on McMichael's first goal.

According to Clear Sight Hockey, only four Rangers had a negative high-danger chance differential entering Tuesday's game: Rempe, Victor Mancini, Lindgren and Zibanejad.

Zibanejad's struggles are reflected in his effort on Tuesday – he played 11:47 at even strength, seventh among the 12 forwards. The Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko line has been the second line in terms of five-on-five ice time for several games, which is great for the younger guys on that line who have been producing and responsible so far.

That's not good news for Zibanejad and his team, which the Rangers need to be successful now and into the spring.

(Top photo of K'Andre Miller and Alex Ovechkin: Geoff Burke / Imagn Images)