Spencer Carbery comments on the Capitals' defeat

Carbery did not describe it as a full momentum flip, he called it «a couple of plays,» then Washington chased the rest of the night. That line hit hard because the Caps had been controlling stretches.

They led 3-2 after forty minutes at Capital One Arena, then got buried by five Rangers goals in the third for a 7-3 final. Vincent Trocheck and Taylor Raddysh each posted two goals and an assist, and Igor Shesterkin turned aside 29 shots.

The loss pushed Washington's recent skid to six losses in seven games, and it also snapped their perfect mark when leading after two periods. The margin is razor thin right now, and one bad shift is turning into a full period of scramble hockey.

The bounce showed up at 8:10 when Raddysh's backhand attempt redirected in off Matt Roy to tie it 3-3. Just 1:08 later, Alexis Lafrenière tipped a point shot for his 100th NHL goal, and the rink got quiet fast.

Carbery pointed to coverage that was mostly fine, but not sharp enough flexing out on Artemi Panarin and not sturdy enough at the net front. Those are the «couple of plays» that turn a clean third into a track meet.

When exits get late, the forecheck gets split, and your forwards leave early, you gift the Rangers easy entries with speed. Then your gaps back off, the slot opens, and every next shift starts with your heels pointed at your own goalie.

Washington still outshot New York 32-21, so this was not a night where the Caps never had the puck. John Carlson, the 35-year-old taken 27th overall in 2008, scored his eighth, and Dylan Strome's seventh came on the power play.

Aliaksei Protas added his 13th, cleaning up a rebound off the rush, and Ryan Leonard chipped in two assists in his return. Leonard is 20, the No. 8 pick in 2023, and his touch on entries and puck movement changes how that top unit breathes.