Caps Lose in MSG; Blanked by Lundqvist

Rangers 2, Capitals 0

I'm beginning to think the Capitals are cursed. They again outplayed their opposition, winning more faceoffs, getting more shots and scoring chances and controlling the play much more than their opponents, and again wound up losing. That's what a great goalie like Henrik Lundqvist can do for your team - let you win games you don't deserve to win.

Even when the team had played well in previous games they had more trouble that they should have getting the puck out of their zone; tonight they made great first passes and were responsible in their own end but ran into a great goalie having a great game. This team just can't catch a break

What's been particularly frustrating as of late is that the Caps keep losing close games, playing without Clark, Semin and Poti. It's not like those three are alone good enough to ensure a win but in close games they could easily be the difference. It's unfortunate the Caps are 5-7-0 at this point because they have played well enough to be deserving of a better record. As a fan you just have to hope they can keep playing well and start getting their share of the bounces and picking up some wins.

Quick Hits:

• The Rangers didn't register their first shot on goal until more than nine minutes into the game.

• Getting shutout, obviously the Caps didn't register a powerplay tally but the powerplay did look solid, registering seven shots during the double minor to Fedor Tyutin.

• I'm not saying Chris Drury did anything wrong on the play where Olaf Kolzig was shaken up, but the Capitals need to do a better job of letting the opposition know it's not okay to drive their net let that. Especially when Erskine is on the ice.

• The Capitals looked like they were on the powerplay for most of the first period. The controlled the puck, kept it in the Rangers zone and did a great job of forechecking. The Rangers were lucky that Lundquist was good enough that they were able to go into the first intermission tied 0-0.

• If Mike Green (6'2'', 201 pounds) can hit guys every game why can't Jeff Schultz (6'6'', 221)?

Quotable:

"It was an intense game. It felt like they were all over us a little bit."

-Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist