When it’s not going well, the little things add up. In their fourth straight loss, the Rangers continued to be their own worst enemy. A bad third period turned a 2-1 lead into a frustrating 3-2 loss to the Capitals on Saturday afternoon in DC.

Despite the Caps missing Alex Ovechkin from the lineup, they found a way to come back and defeat the Rangers by one goal. They got strong play from goali Charlie Lindgren. He stopped all 10 shots in the third period to improve to 2-0 versus the Rangers this season. He also made 31 saves against them in a 4-0 shutout on Dec. 9.

In the battle of brothers, it was the elder Lindgren who came out on top over younger brother Ryan Lindgren. The Rangers defenseman was also busy during the contest. He was involved in an altercation with Nic Dowd late in the first period due to a clean hit he landed on Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary. It shouldn’t have prompted a response. But that’s how the game’s become.

Wilson Bloodies Brodzinski

Earlier in the first period, Capitals forward Tom Wilson bloodied Jonny Brodzinski. He was called for a boarding minor. Anton Blidh responded to the hit by cross-checking Wilson. That led to Connor McMichael roughing Blidh during the scrum. McMichael received the extra two minutes to put the Rangers on a power play that they failed to capitalize on.

Regarding the Wilson hit on Brodzinski, he didn’t target him from behind. As ESPN studio analyst P.K. Subban illustrated during a segment with Mark Messier, Wilson came from the side and let up. Messier took it a step further by indicating that Brodzinski put himself in a vulnerable position.

Even if you’re not the biggest fan of Wilson, the penalty was for Brodzinski turning into him. There are too many overly sensitive hockey fans who have forgotten what the game used to be. It’s become much softer. There was nothing malicious about Wilson’s hit. Both Messier and Subban crushed it with their stance on the Lindgren hit. It’s a hockey play.

Fox Gives Rangers the Lead

With the game still scoreless, a good play by Will Cuylle in the offensive zone forced Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen into a turnover. His aggression led directly to Adam Fox, giving the Rangers the lead.

On a play down low after Cuylle moved the puck to Chris Kreider, he got it across for Fox. His intended return pass came right back to him for an easy goal that put the Rangers up 1-0 with 6:37 remaining in the first period.

It was Fox’s third goal in four games. After going without a goal since Oct. 28, Fox has suddenly been finding the back of the net with regulatory. He’d later add another goal to make it four goals over the last four games.

The lead proved to be short-lived.

Mantha Ties It

On a play in the Caps’ zone, a K’Andre Miller misread had a bad result. His pinch at the point put Jacob Trouba in a tough spot. McMichael sent Anthony Mantha on a breakaway where he beat Jonathan Quick to tie the score with over two minutes left in the period.

Miller got caught reaching to try to prevent the McMichael lead pass that sprung Mantha for his 12th goal of the season. It was another mistake from the suddenly struggling Rangers defenseman. He’s made several during the team’s four-game losing streak. Miller has to do a better job defensively.

Fox Strikes Again

During an evenly played second period in which both Quick and Lindgren made crucial stops, the Rangers were able to surge back ahead thanks to Fox. He struck again to give the Rangers their second lead of the contest.

Fox stepped up and fired a slap shot from the right point that went through a Jimmy Vesey screen past Lindgren for his second goal of the game. The goal was unassisted. The Rangers led 2-1, with under 15 minutes left in the period.

Quick stopped all 10 shots in the period to allow the Rangers to take the one-goal lead to the locker room. He played another good game. It’s been discussed around hockey circles. It’s Quick that gives the Rangers the best chance of winning. He’s outplayed “All-Star” Igor Shesterkin. We’ll see how Shesterkin responds in tomorrow’s rematch at Madison Square Garden.

Defensive Miscues Hurt

In the third period, the Rangers made too many mistakes to finish off the Caps. There was an undisciplined Kreider slashing minor that ended a power play a minute in. Ultimately, defensive miscues hurt the most.

Still ahead by one, the Rangers fell asleep during a Caps’ rush in transition. After Carlson passed the puck up for Evgeny Kuznetsov, he breezed by a lazy Zibanejad stick check and then was allowed to circle around the net. Kuznetsov then had his backhand tipped in by Dowd, who beat Miller to the front of the net. That tied the score.

On another mindless defensive shift less than two minutes later, Fox made a bad read that led directly to an easy tap in for T.J. Oshie. Capitals defenseman Joel Edmundson started it with a pass up for Dylan Strome. After Fox’s step up didn’t work, that created a two-on-one down low. Strome easily passed across for an easy Oshie goal that gave the Caps the lead with 11:31 left in regulation.

It’s been those kinds of eye-opening mistakes that have the Rangers struggling. If the Hurricanes win over the Penguins tonight, their lead for first place will be down to a single point.

Lindgren Shuts The Door

Following the Caps’ pair of goals that turned a one-goal deficit into a 3-2 lead, they limited the Rangers offensively. While they wound up out-shooting Washington 10-6, there weren’t many Grade A chances.

The best opportunity came when Zibanejad tested Lindgren high. But he got his glove up to deny him.

With Quick off for an extra attacker, the Rangers got two more chances with time winding down. Alexis Lafreniere had his one-timer in the slot stopped by Lindgren with 1:19 left. It was a tight window. He couldn’t quite lift the puck.

The final opportunity came with 11 seconds to go. They had Vincent Trocheck open for a one-timer. However, his shot went high and wide. Despite dominating on faceoffs by winning 20 of 24, the Rangers’ best center (this season) couldn’t force overtime.

Hopefully, Trocheck will make it to the All-Star Game on merit. Unlike the starting goalie, he deserves to go to Toronto.

Rematch Tomorrow

With the Caps holding up their end of the bargain by winning on home ice for the second time this season, it’s up to the Rangers to do the same in tomorrow’s rematch at 1 EST. If they can, they’ll finally end the losing streak and conclude the season series with a split against the Caps. If they can’t, then there are bigger issues.