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WASHINGTON — The blooming cherry blossom trees in the nation’s capital looked pretty this weekend, but there wasn’t anything more beautiful than the Rangers’ slew of goals Sunday afternoon.

Leaning on the traits that set them apart from the other 31 NHL teams, their elite skillsets and showmanship, the Blueshirts finished their second-to-last road trip of the season with a 5-2 win over the Capitals at Capital One Arena.

With the victory, the Rangers reached 100 points for the 12th time in franchise history and the second consecutive year.

“It’s awesome,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said of the feat. “Means you had a good season, but it doesn’t mean nothing in two weeks’ time. You start all over again and try and win. It’s good, we’ve had two good years in a row and just want to keep getting better.”

Five goals may have represented the Rangers’ highest production on the road since Feb. 17, but the various ways in which they came made it all the more encouraging.

The first was on a rebound.

After that, a highlight-reel worthy score featuring tremendous hands.

There was one that came off a grinding play.

Another was a result of a strong effort off the rush.


  Alexis Lafreniere (13) celebrates his goal during the Rangers’ 5-2 win over the Capitals on Sunday. AP Alexis Lafreniere (13) celebrates his goal during the Rangers’ 5-2 win over the Capitals on Sunday. AP

And, of course, a power-play goal for good measure.

“We managed the puck as good as we’ve managed it in a long time,” Gallant said. “I just thought it was a good team effort.”

Gallant’s scathing message about their poor start Friday night appeared to reach the Rangers loud and clear.

Unlike the previous four road games, the first period saw the Rangers emerge with a 2-0 lead instead of trailing.

The Rangers may have been playing to the Capitals’ speed, but they flashed some picture-perfect plays to pull ahead.

After K’Andre Miller cleaned up a rebound off a sweet move from Vincent Trocheck, who put the puck between his legs and went to his backhand for the initial shot, the Kid Line went to work just over two minutes later.

Filip Chytil later dished the puck back to Lafreniere, who pulled off his own between-the-legs move and finished with a backhander for the 2-0 lead at 15:19 of the first period.

It was Lafreniere’s sixth point in the Rangers’ last five games. It was also the kind of goal that should be featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10.

The Kid Line was buzzing around like it has been the last few games, and Gallant has been rewarding the young trio accordingly.


  Igor Shesterkin makes a glove save in the third period of the Rangers’ win over the Capitals on April 2, 2023. NHLI via Getty Images Igor Shesterkin makes a glove save in the third period of the Rangers’ win over the Capitals on April 2, 2023. NHLI via Getty Images

Kaapo Kakko, who had battled along the boards behind the Caps’ net earlier, made it a 3-0 game just a minute into the second period by tapping in a feed from Miller behind the goal.

“You look at them play, you can tell they’re on the same page,” said Mika Zibanejad, who capped the Rangers’ scoring with a power-play goal in the third period. “They’ve played a lot of hockey together and they’re having fun.”

The Rangers’ top-six started the way they ended Friday night’s overtime loss in Buffalo, with both wings flipped.

Patrick Kane skated with Chris Kreider and Zibanejad, while Vladimir Tarasenko lined up next to Artemi Panarin and Trocheck.

It seemed to have the desired effect. In addition to Trocheck’s nifty drive to the net that led to Miller’s goal, Tarasenko gave the Rangers a 4-1 lead with a pinpoint wrister off the rush from the left faceoff circle at 5:53 of the third period.

At the end of a gorgeous spring day in Washington, the Rangers didn’t just get under the Capitals’ skin with their scoring abilities.

Their all-around game gave the home team fits. The Rangers need that on a consistent basis at this time of year.

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