For two periods, the better team donned the navy Blueshirt jerseys. Indeed, the Rangers were the scrappier bunch who frustrated the first place Capitals into taking undisciplined penalties.

Sam Carrick had given them the lead by parking himself in front and steering in a K’Andre Miller pass to score for the first time in 13 games. His sixth goal put the Rangers ahead with under 12 minutes left in the second period. Carrick has become a folk hero on Broadway. A gritty center who likes to mix it up, his line with rookies Brett Berard and Matt Rempe has gained the trust of bench boss Peter Laviolette. When the fourth line is out, they get things done by outworking opponents and wreaking havoc.

Perhaps the Caps got sick of seeing Carrick and his linemates dominate most of their shifts. During a scrum, Brandon Duhaime dropped the gloves with Carrick taking him off the ice for five minutes. Considering how well he’s played that was an advantage for the Caps. Even though there was no loss of manpower, the Rangers didn’t have Carrick available. The energy he brings is infectious. When push comes to shove, Laviolette prefers the hard-nosed style of the fourth line over the new third line anchored by recent pickup Juuso Parssinen. Right now, they bring more to the table.

Despite playing strong defensively, the Rangers cost themselves a chance to win three in a row due to faulty special teams in a disappointing 3-2 overtime loss. On a high-sticking double minor in the first period, they were limited to one shot on goal by the Caps. In fact, Aliaksei Protas had the best scoring chance on a shorthanded bid that Igor Shesterkin stopped.

By that point, Artemi Panarin scored for the third straight game to tie the contest at one. Zac Jones broke up a Caps’ scoring chance in front of his own net to start the scoring play in transition. He took an Alexei Lafreniere feed and made a good pass that Panarin tipped in for his team-leading 26th with 6:23 remaining. Since returning to the lineup, Jones has played well by adding some much-needed speed and skill to the blue line. He has also stepped it up defensively, with partner Calvin de Haan forming a reliable third pair.

Panarin’s goal gave him five points over the last three games. After going through a lull, his game seems to be coming back at the right time. The Rangers need their leading scorer to help carry them into the postseason. They also need more from Lafreniere, who despite picking up an assist for a third consecutive game, only has nine shots over his last 16 games. He didn’t register a shot for the second straight game. Lafreniere’s season has been a nightmare, with him only having 14 goals despite playing in all 62 games up to this point. He needs to be more aggressive. At the very least, he was more physically involved. That included catching Nic Dowd with a big hit that got the crowd going.

The Rangers didn’t let an early Pierre-Luc Dubois tally deflate them. Instead, they got back on track thanks to some good work from Jonny Brodzinski and Brennan Othmann. Following a Charlie Lindgren save on a Brodzinski shot during a previous shift, Othmann came close to scoring his first NHL goal. On a good scoring chance, he had his shot go off the crossbar.

Panarin later had a backhand in tight denied by Lindgren, who was sharp despite only having to make 15 saves on 17 shots. On the same shift, Urho Vaakanainen had a deflection just go wide. It was the best shift from the Panarin line in quite some time. They were more noticeable, generating some high-quality chances. The trio of Panarin, Lafreniere, and Vincent Trocheck can still finish the season strong to push the Blueshirts into the playoffs.

The Caps nearly went ahead by two. After Will Borgen got caught pinching, Lars Eller got behind the defense for a breakaway. Shesterkin snuffed out his backhand to make the big save. Interestingly, Capitals coach Spencer Carberry showed some frustration with Eller’s choice.

During the period, the Rangers made it a point to finish their checks. That included a nice rubout from K’Andre Miller on Tom Wilson. Since Adam Fox went on the injured reserve, Miller has played some of his best hockey. Given more responsibility on the top pair with Borgen, he’s delivered with more consistent defense and some offense. He led all Rangers skaters in ice time with 26:12.

With the Caps threatening, Jones was in the right spot to steal a backhand pass in front and start a transition that led to Panarin tying the score. It was a good all-around play from Jones and Lafreniere. Panarin went to the dirty area to put away Jones’ feed to draw the Blueshirts even.

Any chance to surge ahead was damaged by an ineffective power play. After Ethen Frank drew blood on Berard, neither unit could get anything going. Will Cuylle came the closest but was stopped by Lindgren late to keep the score tied.

Despite having the better of the play at points in the second period, the Rangers wasted another man-advantage, with the Caps victimized for a bench minor. In fact, Dowd had the best opportunity when his shorthanded bid hit the goalpost. The Rangers went 0-for-4 on the power play.

With the game still tied, it was the Carrick line that provided the go-ahead goal thanks to a dominant shift against the Alex Ovechkin line. Rempe got two hits on Ovechkin in what amounted to an outstanding shift. Following Carrick firing a shot over the top, Borgen was able to get the puck up for Miller at the point. He then found Carrick in front for a backhand upstairs to make it 2-1 at 8:05.

Following the goal, Vaakanainen took an unnecessary roughing minor on Dubois to put the dangerous Caps on the power play. Fortunately, the Rangers penalty kill did a good job to limit their chances.

After Carrick and Duhaime fought, both Vaakanainen and Cuylle came close to giving the Rangers a two-goal lead. However, neither chance reached Lindgren. On an active shift that saw Othmann hit Taylor Raddysh, Matt Roy went after Othmann roughing him up to earn a penalty. With Roy visibly frustrated, he then fought Parssinen, who lost the decision despite coming to the aid of a teammate.

Yet again, the Rangers didn’t take advantage on the five-on-four. Jones went wide on a wrist shot with some room. Trocheck would then take a holding minor on Eller to lead to some four-on-four. On it, Ovechkin finally unleased one of his patented big shots that Shesterkin snatched with his glove. The Rangers took a one-goal lead to the locker room.

Instead of coming out and attacking, they opted to sit back and protect the lead. A couple of close calls from the Caps early should have been a warning sign. The conservative strategy cost them.

With the Rangers only having a single shot, Jones led a rush and made a drop pass for a de Haan shot that was blocked. That allowed the Caps to quickly counter in the opposite direction for a scoring chance. Jones hustled back to catch up to Eller but was called for hooking after going for a stick lift.

For most of the penalty kill, they minimized the Caps’ chances. However, a broken play off a faceoff led directly to Ovechkin tying it with a power-play goal. Andrew Mangiapane was able to find a cutting Ovechkin in front for his 885th career goal, which pulled him within 10 of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. While he set up Ovechkin’s game-tying goal, Mangiapane was hooked from behind by Borgen to put the Caps back on the power play.

The doomsday scenario never played out. Shesterkin made a glove save on a long Ovechkin shot to keep that prevented it. Although they killed the penalty, the Rangers were on their heels. They were lucky just to survive regulation. The Caps kept coming at them in waves and throwing pucks in front. Eventually, the game went to overtime.

In it, Panarin made a nice drop for Mika Zibanejad. Rather than take the shot, he pulled back and reset. The Rangers did this several times, which might help explain why their overtime record is now 1-6. Despite controlling the possession early, they managed just one shot on Lindgren. It was brutal.

When the Caps got the puck, they were dangerous. That included Ovechkin skating inside the blue line and firing a rocket that Shesterkin made a huge glove save on. The closest the Rangers came was when Jones had a great opportunity in front but was unable to win it.

On a counter up the ice, Zibanejad passed up a shot for a low percentage pass to a covered J.T. Miller that resulted in a turnover. It didn’t take long for Dylan Strome to toe drag around Braden Schneider and pass in front for a Wilson tip-in that ended the game. It was a cruel ending. They got what they deserved for being too passive.

Despite outplaying the Caps for two periods, the Rangers never finished them. When you face quality opponents, you have to keep pressing the action. This loss is on Peter Laviolette. For whatever reason, his team backed off. In the process, it cost them a valuable point in the standings. Combined with the Senators winning over the Blackhawks, the Rangers are now out of the second wild card due to Ottawa having one less game played. They’re both tied in points with 67.

That sets up a big match-up on Saturday at Ottawa. The Rangers still hold the number one tiebreaker due to more regulation wins (29). But they really must beat the Senators in regulation. A three-point game isn’t the formula for success. They also face the Blue Jackets on Sunday. These are the teams they’re battling with for the postseason. It’s do or die.

A final point. It wasn’t a good showing for the Miller line. Miller’s been superb since arriving from Vancouver. But his line didn’t have an impact against the Caps. They’ll have to be better this weekend.