Caps report

Last night at Madison Square Garden:

PLAY OF THE GAME

While killing a penalty early in the game, Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist made a nearly impossible stop, snaring a point-blank drive by Dainius Zubrus out of the air at the last possible second.

SEEN AND HEARD

Retired superstar Mark Messier was at the Rangers’ morning skate but missed a chance to introduce himself to Alex Ovechkin. Instead, he grabbed one of the rookie’s sticks and wrote on the shaft, “Good luck, Alex. — Mark Messier.” He then turned to a Caps employee and asked that a message be relayed: “Tell [Ovechkin] I’m a big fan.”

OVECHKIN WATCH

The rookie’s 43 goals are the most by a Capitals player since Peter Bondra had 46 in 1996-97 and in 2000-01.

— Dave Fay