Will Cuylle recorded his first career hat trick to power the New York Rangers to a dominant 8–1 victory over the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
For the second straight game, the Rangers overwhelmed a playoff-hungry opponent. This rout followed Saturday’s 4–1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, leaving both Eastern Conference hopefuls unable to gain ground against a New York side already eliminated from postseason contention.
A day after Gabe Perreault notched his first NHL hat trick, Cuylle matched the feat as the Rangers improved to 33-36-9, winning five of their last six games during their seven-game homestand.
Cuylle led the charge with three goals, while Adam Fox (one goal, two assists) and Mika Zibanejad (three assists) also posted three-point performances in a game where 14 Rangers players recorded at least one point.
The scoring began almost instantly, with Conor Sheary finding the net just 23 seconds into the contest. Connor McMichael briefly responded for Washington, but the Rangers seized full control in the second period.
New York erupted for five goals in the middle frame, capitalizing on Capitals mistakes, including back-to-back delay-of-game penalties. J.T. Miller, Cuylle (twice), Adam Sykora, and Fox all scored during the onslaught to build a commanding lead.
The dominance continued into the third, with Vincent Trocheck adding another before Cuylle completed his hat trick late in the game his 20th goal of the season.
Key Takeaways
Offensive Explosion
The Rangers set a season high with eight goals and have now scored at least four goals in 10 of their last 21 games since the Olympic break. During this homestand, they’ve outscored opponents 27–8.
Back-to-Back Hat Tricks
Cuylle’s milestone came one day after Perreault’s, marking the first time since 1982 that Rangers players recorded hat tricks on consecutive days.
Physical Edge
Tempers flared as multiple fights broke out, including bouts involving Cuylle and Jakob Chychrun, as well as Tye Kartye and Brandon Duhaime.
Playing Spoiler
Despite being out of playoff contention, the Rangers disrupted the postseason hopes of both Detroit and Washington, proving they remain competitive down the stretch.
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