WASHINGTON _ Overtime on back-to-back nights actually seemed like a good thing for the Rangers, who haven't won a game in regulation this season.
This extra period, however, didn't turn out as well as Tuesday's for the Rangers, who fell to the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, 4-3, when Matt Niskanen popped in a rebound past Henrik Lundqvist with 2:42 remaining in the extra session.
The Rangers did, though, get three out of a possible four points in the back-to-back, as their record improved to 2-4-1 on the young season. They are 2-1-1 since their 0-3 start.
Chris Kreider's power-play goal, a tip-in of Neal Pionk's shot, had tied the score at 3-3 at 10:25 of the third period. It was the third assist of the game for Pionk and the power-play goal was the third for the Rangers in two games. Pionk tied a career-high with three assists.
Kevin Hayes took a high sticking penalty at 14:43, and Alex Ovechkin ripped a shot that hit the post over Lundqvist's catching glove. Ovechkin had already scored two power-play goals in the game.
Quinn kept his streak alive of dressing a different lineup every game. He said he gave a lot of thought Wednesday about staying with the same group that had played so well and won on Tuesday. Ultimately, though, Quinn decided to re-insert Pavel Buchnevich for Cody McLeod, which was his only change.
"I was hesitant to even make the change with (Buchnevich) but, like I've said before, these decisions aren't 100 percent. It's 51-49 a lot of the times," Quinn said before the game. "Boochie's going to be an important part of what we're going to do, and I want to get him back in."
Quinn also chose to stay with Lundqvist in goal for the second straight night, even after the goalie had played overtime and gone to a shootout on Tuesday. He admitted the goalie had some input in the decision, along with goaltending coach Benoit Allaire.
"Well, he feels good, and the last two games we've given up a lot less chances (so) it's been an easier game for him _ not an easy game, but easier than what we'd been doing the first four games," Quinn said. "He and I talked this summer about situations like this and we talked, between myself, Ben (Allaire) and Hank, and we feel like, with three days off coming up, this is a good time to go back-to-back."
The Rangers don't play again until Sunday night, when they host the Calgary Flames.
Mika Zibanejad gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead when he banged in the rebound of a shot by Chris Kreider at 6:09 of the first period, but Washington tied it at 14:05 of the period after Nicklas Backstrom beat Ryan Spooner clean on a right circle faceoff and got it back to John Carlson, who beat Lundqvist through a screen for his third goal of the season.
Ovechkin's first goal came at 3:32 of the second period, with Brett Howden in the box for tripping. It was a classic Ovechkin power-play goal, a one-timer from a step above the left wing circle. The Rangers tied it when Jimmy Vesey scored a power-play goal of his own at 12:42, but Ovechkin's second goal _ a replay of the first one, but from just inside the circle this time, made it 3-2 at 17:01.
