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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.