First-period goals from Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere backed Igor Shesterkin’s 24 saves as the New York Rangers snapped a season-high four-game losing streak with Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals.

The Rangers used their fast start and Shesterkin’s solid performance to avenge a 3-2 defeat to the Capitals in Washington in Saturday’s opener of this home-and-home weekend series.

Panarin put New York on the board in a hurry, as the star wing whipped a feed from Vincent Trocheck past Washington netminder Charlie Lindgren just 56 seconds into the game with the Rangers on an odd-man rush. The goal was Panarin’s 400th point in a Rangers uniform.

Lafreniere made it a 2-0 game when he knocked in the rebound of his initial shot attempt with 50 seconds left in the first period.

T.J. Oshie poked a loose puck past Shesterkin just past the midway point of the second period to get Washington within 2-1, but the Capitals managed just seven shots on goal during a scoreless third.

That’s our goalie.pic.twitter.com/jZMaRlQM6w

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 14, 2024

Lindgren finished with 29 saves in the Capitals’ fourth loss in six games.

 

Red Wings score twice late to extend Maple Leafs' skid

Andrew Copp scored the tie-breaking goal with 1:40 remaining as the Detroit Red Wings rallied for a 4-2 victory over the slumping Toronto Maple Leafs.

Lucas Raymond sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 18.9 seconds left to play for Detroit, which struck three times in the third period to erase a 2-1 deficit and extend its point streak to six games (5-0-1) to begin January.

Toronto dropped to 0-2-1 over its last three games following a four-game winning streak to start the new calendar year.

The Maple Leafs took a 2-1 lead on Mitchell Marner's goal with 1:42 left in the second period - the All Star forward's 600th career point - but Detroit answered 2:46 into the third on Daniel Sprong's breakaway goal.

After a scoreless first period, Toronto's Pontus Holmberg tipped in a shot from teammate Morgan Rielly to break the stalemate 32 seconds into the second. 

The Red Wings drew even later in the second period when captain Dylan Larkin converted a feed from David Perron with 4:21 remaining before the intermission. Larkin later added an assist on Raymond's late goal. 

Put your hands up for Detroit! pic.twitter.com/8tAZXU8LKB

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 15, 2024

Ilya Samsonov, making his first start for Toronto since being waived on Dec. 31 and then being recalled from the minors this week, stopped 20 of 23 shots. James Reimer finished with 28 saves for Detroit.