Jenner’s first Capitals goal lifts Washington past Rangers, 3–1

Boone Jenner scored his first goal for Washington to break a second-period tie Friday night, helping the Capitals defeat the New York Rangers 3–1 at Capital One Arena.

Timothy Liljegren also scored his first goal with the Capitals, and Logan Thompson stopped 21 of 22 shots. Tom Wilson added an empty-net goal with one second remaining as Washington improved to 3–1–0 and won consecutive games for the first time this season.

The Capitals had to recover from an early deficit and protect a one-goal lead through the third period. New York’s four-game winning streak ended on a night when the Rangers also lost starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin to a lower-body injury.

“Not a lot of room on either side,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said afterward.

New York opened the scoring at 10:17 of the first period. With Dylan McIlrath serving a tripping penalty, Alexis Lafrenière took a pass from J.T. Miller and scored on a wrist shot from the high slot. Pavel Dorofeyev also assisted on Lafrenière’s fourth goal of the season.

Washington outshot the Rangers 10–7 in the opening period but entered the intermission trailing 1–0.

Liljegren brought the Capitals even at 6:08 of the second, beating Shesterkin with a one-timer from the left point. Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard earned the assists on the defenseman’s first goal since joining Washington in a March trade.

The game was tied when Shesterkin was injured at 8:20 of the period. Scrambling back toward his net during a Washington power play, he appeared to catch his right skate against the post. He needed assistance leaving the ice and did not return. Shesterkin finished with 13 saves on 14 shots, and Dylan Garand stopped 11 of 12 in relief.

Jenner put Washington ahead with 2:22 left in the second. He intercepted a clearing attempt in the Rangers’ zone and beat Garand with a wrist shot from between the circles. The goal was unassisted.

The Capitals then had to defend the advantage almost immediately. Jenner was called for high-sticking just 19 seconds after scoring, giving New York a power play that lasted until the final seconds of the period. Washington killed it off to take a 2–1 lead into the third.

“I thought it was a hard-fought game,” Carbery said.

Washington kept the Rangers off the scoreboard for the final 49:43. Thompson stopped all seven shots he faced in the third, and the Capitals held their lead until Wilson’s empty-netter at 19:59. Vincent Desharnais collected the assist.

The Capitals finished with a 27–22 advantage in shots despite going 0-for-3 on the power play. New York converted one of its three opportunities and fell to 4–2–0.

Washington continues its homestand Sunday against the Seattle Kraken.