Recap: Tom Wilson Sets the Tone, Scores Twice as Rangers Fall 6-3 to Capitals

Looking to bounce back from their overtime loss in Carolina Monday Night, the New York Rangers were in the Nation’s Capital to take on the Washington Capitals. The big story tonight would be the return of Adam Fox to the Rangers’ lineup after missing all of December with an injury. As we suspected, Fox's return sent Scott Morrow back to Hartford and shifted the defense pairings quite a bit.

Braden Schneider would move to the left side of the second pair with Matthew Robertson playing the right on the third. Here's how the full lineup shaped out with Jonathan Quick getting the start in net:

First Period

The Rangers were utterly dominated through the first five minutes of play as the puck rarely left their own zone. Jonathan Quick was standing his ground early and often which included making a save with his head that knocked his helmet right off. Through the midway point of the period, the Rangers were credited with just two shots on goal which somehow felt generous. 

With seven and a half minutes to go in the first, the Capitals struck first. A beautiful pass from Ryan Leonard found Anthony Beauvillier at the opposite circle, allowing him to beat a sprawling Quick on the glove side to make it a 1-0 game. 

The Rangers first real chance of the night came on a nice play from Alexis Lafrenière as he intercepted a puck in the Capitals end and had a partial break to the net. While the shot went wide, it generated some more activity in front of Washington’s net which had been sorely missing up to this point. 

With about three and a half to go in the period, Vincent Trocheck got tangled up with Leonard in the defensive zone which earned him the first penalty of the game as he was sent off for tripping. The Rangers penalty killers did a great job of fighting off the advantage, although Washington’s power play has been struggling all season long. 

In the final 40 seconds of the opening period, a shot from Artemi Panarin at the point took a redirect off some traffic in front. Both Trocheck and Lafrenière were there with sticks in the lane which would be enough for the puck to find the back of the net. Trocheck would be credited with the goal as the Rangers tied the game up 1-1 heading into the first intermission. Shots at this point were 7-5 in Washington’s favor. 

The goal would come as Trocheck's 600th career point although it looked awfully close to being an Alexis Lafrenière goal.

Second Period

Quick was tested early in the second on another Leonard-to-Beauvillier sequence across the slot and came up with a key pad save to keep things knotted up. Quick continued to make some big saves for the Rangers and his teammates continued to help him out as they were blocking a ton of shots through the first half of the game. 

Nearing the midway point of the game, Noah Laba was caught with the puck along the boards and Tom Wilson absolutely leveled him with a massive hit. Laba laid on the ice in great distress as absolutely no one on the ice for the Rangers gave as much as a thought to go after Wilson. Will Borgen gave him a half-hearted cross check which did nothing but allowed for him to skate unbothered right to the Rangers net where he cashed in on a rebound to make it a 2-1 game. 

Just an incredibly brutal sequence for the Rangers. One of the biggest qualms with this team’s efforts this season is they lack fire and heart on a consistent basis so when things like this happen, it’s beyond frustrating. Fighting, especially after clean hits, may not always be the answer but when things go the way they have been for the Rangers and this happens, you’d really like to see a response from someone. Had there been, perhaps the game remains tied at this point. 

The first chance he had following the goal, Sam Carrick—who at this point is a surefire recipient of the 2026 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award—didn’t hesitate to go after Wilson. Without question, one of the toughest players in the league to fight so nothing but respect for Carrick who held his own in the scrap.  

With the Rangers shorthanded, they nearly tied the game back up as a brilliant play from Vladislav Gavrikov created a breakaway opportunity for himself. Gavrikov pulled off a simple forehand-backhand move but was turned away by Charlie Lindgren. This was especially unfortunate seeing as moments later, Borgen watched the puck bounce through the Rangers crease and Justin Sourdif tapped it home to extend his team’s lead, 3-1. 

With six minutes to go in the second, Brandon Duhaime was called for hooking to give the Rangers their first power play of the afternoon. Sheary landed awkwardly which left him painfully limping off the ice and into the Rangers’ locker room. If it wasn’t obvious how much the Rangers power play missed Adam Fox, just over a minute into the man advantage, a beautiful pass from Mika Zibanejad set Fox up for a hard shot from the point that beat Lindgren on the glove side, bringing the Rangers back within one. 

Wilson situation aside, the Rangers were playing much better as the period went on. However with a minute and a half to go, Fox was called for an extremely weak hooking call sending the Rangers back to the penalty kill. They would hold the Caps off, trailing 3-2 heading into the second intermission. Shots after forty minutes were now 18-16 in Washington's favor.

Third Period

The Rangers would finish this game incredibly shorthanded as neither Laba or Sheary would return for the third period. 

While the Rangers were spending more time in the Capitals end of the ice, it was an incredibly underwhelming first half of the third period. At the midway point of the third, Quick came up with a massive glove save on Connor McMichael who came in on a breakaway. Lindgren followed that up with a big save of his own, stacking the pads on a cross-slot pass from Lafrenière to Gabe Perreault at the door step. 

The Rangers continued to push in the offensive zone and had their chances but with six and a half to go, Aliaksei Protas dished the puck to Rasmus Sandin at the point and then went to the net for a perfect redirect, making it a 4-2 game. Three minutes later, Tom Wilson picked up the puck in the slot, again unbothered, and let a shot go for his second of the night, extending the lead to 5-2.

The Rangers scored a garbage time goal with under two minutes left as Braden Schneider threw a puck to the net with Matt Rempe cutting through the slot. The Rangers pulled Quick on the following shift but couldn't do anything. Wilson got the puck again down low and set up Sourdif for his second of the night on the empty net.

Just a completely disappointing way to wrap up 2025. Perhaps it's just because of the opponent, but it kind of feels like the type of loss that is going to lead to some sort of changes one way or another. Nevertheless, the Rangers will head South for the Winter Classic in Miami Friday Night as they look to snap a three game losing skid.