Capitals 3, Rangers 1: Jenner Wins It After Shesterkin Goes Down

October 9, 2026 - Washington - Igor Shesterkin came well out of the crease to challenge a shooter, then scrambled back. The Associated Press recap said he caught a skate on the post, collapsed into the net, and lay there holding his right knee. Teammates helped him off. He did not put weight on the right leg. The NHL recap timed it at 8:20 of the second. There was no update after the game.

The Washington Capitals beat the New York Rangers 3-1. Washington is 3-1-0, 3-0-0 against the Metropolitan Division. New York is 4-2-0 after four straight wins. Shots were 27-22 Washington. Attendance was 17,992. The NHL recap notes the Capitals are 13-1-2 in their past 16 at Capital One Arena dating to last season.

Boone Jenner scored the winner, his first as a Capital. Timothy Liljegren scored his first with Washington. Tom Wilson hit the empty net with one second left. Logan Thompson stopped 21 of 22. Alexis Lafrenière had the Rangers goal. Shesterkin stopped 13 of 14 in 28:20. Dylan Garand stopped 11 of 12 in 29:45 and took the loss. Jenner, Liljegren, Garand, Vincent Desharnais, Cole Beaudoin, and Pavel Dorofeyev are not seeded on AthX player pages, so those names stay unlinked.

1-0 on the power play, 1-1 from the left point

Ryan Leonard tripped at 1:36. Dylan McIlrath tripped at 9:24. New York scored on the second look. Lafrenière took a J.T. Miller pass, walked across the zone, and beat Thompson from the top of the slot at 10:17. Dorofeyev the other assist. It was Lafrenière's fourth goal in two games. The NHL recap said New York had not allowed a first-period goal in its first six games. That held. Washington did not score until the second.

Miller told NHL.com it was a hard-fought game with not a lot of room. Jenner said division games are a little bigger, and that they still needed the points.

Liljegren tied it at 6:08 of the second, a one-timer from the left point through a screen. Dylan Strome and Leonard on the play. The NHL recap notes the March 6 trade from San Jose. Two minutes later Shesterkin was done. Mike Sullivan told NHL.com that when you see arguably your very best player leave, that is a tough loss, and that he thought they fought hard anyway.

Jenner from between the dots, Wilson at 19:59

Jenner made it 2-1 at 17:38. The NHL recap said he intercepted Beaudoin's clearing attempt and beat Garand from between the circles. Jenner himself pointed at the forecheck: they rim it, Vinny stays in that guy's pockets, bounce, bury. Unassisted on the NHL landing. The Capitals signed him July 1 to a four-year, $23 million contract, that wrap said. He took high-sticking 19 seconds after the goal.

New York outshot Washington 7-5 in the third and did not tie it. Mika Zibanejad told NHL.com the third was better, a few more chances, and they did not connect. Adam Fox took hooking at 4:31. Washington did not score on it. The Capitals site recap called the third an icing festival: 10 icing calls.

Wilson's empty-netter at 19:59 came from Desharnais. The NHL recap put Wilson at nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past six games against the Rangers. Liljegren told NHL.com they had a lot of good sticks and blocks in the last minute, not a perfect game, two points anyway.

Thompson faced 7, 8, and 7 shots by period and allowed only Lafrenière's power-play snap. Shesterkin saw 10 in the first and four in the second before the injury. Garand saw eight in the second and four in the third, plus the empty-netter that did not go on him. Wilson played 21:41. Jenner played 13:37 with the winner, three shots, one block, and two PIM.

AthX Engine on a 21-save Metro night

AthX Engine (our projection and scoring system) scored Thompson at 10.20 (win, 21 saves, one goal against). Jenner is 5.80. Wilson is 5.80. Liljegren is 5.70. Lafrenière is 5.10 with the power-play bonus. Shesterkin is 4.00 on 13 saves and one goal against with no decision. Garand is 3.20.

Washington's team line is 17.60. New York floors at 0.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for Thompson after another Metro win, and for Shesterkin after he left on one leg. They are not the same number.

The Rangers host Vancouver on Sunday. Washington hosts Seattle the same night. Track Thompson, Wilson, Shesterkin, and both clubs on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap (ESPN), ESPN box score, NHL.com recap, NHL.com scoreboard. AthX Engine fantasy points scored from NHL gamecenter boxscore 2026020067. Information only; not financial advice.*