Capitals 4 - 1 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Grubauer nabs first win as Caps beat Rangers

Dec 9, 2013 - 7:02 AM New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Philipp Grubauer made 30 saves for his first NHL win, leading the Washington Capitals to a 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday.

Grubauer, in his second NHL start and fourth appearance, had seven saves in the first period, 10 in the second and closed out Washington's fourth win in five games with 13 stops in the third.

He was working on a shutout until Benoit Pouliot deflected Michael Del Zotto's shot from the high left side for New York's only goal with 1:53 remaining. The play was reviewed because Pouliot's stick was up, but it was upheld as a goal.

Jason Chimera, Steve Oleksy. Mikhail Grabovski and Eric Fehr scored for the Capitals, with Grabovski's goal coming on a penalty shot.

Henrik Lundqvist had 32 saves for the Rangers, who have lost two straight to begin a nine-game homestand, including Saturday's defeat to the New Jersey Devils in overtime.

"In all aspects of our game we have to get better," said Rangers forward Ryan Callahan.

Chimera and Oleksy scored 25 seconds apart in the second period to give the Capitals a 2-0 lead.

Chimera got his sixth of the season on a scrum in front of the net and Oleksy, who assisted on the first goal, scored his first of the season at 2:53 after flipping a shot on net through traffic from the point.

On a break, Grabovski was hooked lightly on his right arm by Ryan McDonagh from behind, leading to his penalty shot with 1:34 left in the second period. Grabovski beat Lundqvist glove-side with a slap shot from the slot to make it 3-0.

The penalty shot was called even though Grabovski was able to jam a shot off Lundqvist's left pad.

"What do you want me to say? It takes a lot of guts to pull that off. And he did. Good for him," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. "Obviously Grabo's penalty shot made a big difference."

Fehr got a piece of Nate Schmidt's shot from the high left side with 2:57 remaining in the game.

Game Notes

Grabovski scored his ninth goal of the season, Fehr got his fifth and Pouliot netted his third ... The Capitals are home against Tampa Bay on Tuesday ... The Rangers play the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.






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