While Alex Ovechkin tried to figure out Henrik Lundqvist, the Washington Capitals found a way to beat the New York Rangers.

Ovechkin went a third game without a goal, but earned two assists for the second-seeded Capitals, who methodically posted a 4-0 victory over the No. 7 Rangers and got back into the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series Monday night.

Behind 33 saves from 20-year-old Simeon Varlamov, the Capitals cut the series deficit to 2-1 – after a pair of home losses – and moved into position to tie the best-of-seven matchup Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Despite playing only six career NHL games, Varlamov made a surprise start in Game 2, after Jose Theodore was ineffective in the opener.