Capitals defeat Rangers
Washington now has a three point lead over New York for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
JASON CHIMERA, Steve Oleksy and Mikhail Grabovski scored second-period goals to power the visiting Washington Capitals to a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers last night.
Washington defenseman Nate Schmidt added a goal in the third for the Capitals, who beat Nashville at home on Saturday. Schmidt, a 22-year-old rookie, scored his first NHL goal in that game.
Grabovski's goal came on a penalty shot.
In his fourth NHL game, Philipp Grubauer made 30 saves for Washington (16-12-2) to earn his first career win. The Capitals have won four of five.
New York (15-15-1), beaten at home in overtime by New Jersey on Saturday, has lost three of five. Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves, and Benoit Pouliot scored the Rangers' lone goal with 1:53 left to spoil Grubauer's shutout bid.
Washington now has a three point lead over New York for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
In other games
* At St. Paul, Minn., Josh Harding made 37 saves in another strong home outing, and the Minnesota Wild beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1, despite recording only 13 shots.
Zach Parise scored twice - once into an empty net - and Mikko Koivu added a goal for the Wild, who have won three of four.
Patrick Marleau scored with 1:41 left for San Jose, which went 1-3 on a four-game trip.
* At Chicago, Patrick Sharp had a goal and two assists, and the Blackhawks scored a season-high three times on the power play in a 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers.
* At Toronto, Carl Soderberg and Torey Krug scored second-period power-play goals and the Boston Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs, 5-2.
* At Vancouver, Mike Santorell had two goals and an assist to lead the Canucks over the Colorado Avalanche, 3-1.
Noteworthy
* Boston forward Chris Kelly suffered a fractured right fibula during the second period of Saturday's win over Pittsburgh and will miss 4 to 6 weeks, the team said. Kelly has been placed on long-term injury reserve. Despite the injury, Kelly still played six shifts in the third period and logged 4:42 of ice time.
In other news from that game, Bruins left wing Shawn Thornton will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety at a date to be determined for an incident in which he pulled down and punched Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik in the first period. Orpik was taken off the ice on a stretcher and visited a hosptial before traveling home with the team.