Wilson scores twice for Capitals in win against Rangers

WASHINGTON -- Tom Wilson had two goals and an assist shortly after being named to Team Canada for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, and the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Rangers 6-3 at Capital One Arena on Wednesday.

Wilson, a forward, and Capitals goalie Logan Thompson were two of 25 players named by Canada to its Olympic roster.

“I told they guys in there that could be one of the greatest days for a hockey player: Gordie Howe Hat Trick, plus one, 200th career goal and gets named to his national team and is going to represent Team Canada at the Olympics,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “I mean, you can’t get much better than that for a day.”

Justin Sourdif also scored twice, and Aliaksei Protas had a goal and an assist for Washington (21-14-5), which has won two of its past three games and visits the Ottawa Senators on Thursday (1 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN5, MNMT). Charlie Lindgren made 22 saves.

The Capitals lost 7-3 to the Rangers here on Dec. 23 after leading 3-2 heading into the third period.

“It was a good response by us,” Lindgren said. “Obviously not happy about the last time we played these guys. We want to be dominant on home ice. I thought we had a really good game tonight against a division rival.”

Adam Fox had a goal and an assist in his return from an upper-body injury, and Artemi Panarin had two assists for New York (19-18-5), which has lost four of five (1-3-1) entering the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers at loanDepot park in Miami on Friday (8 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SNW, SNO, SNE, TVAS). Jonathan Quick made 21 saves.

“There were some things we can do better and some things we can build on, but at the end of the day it was another loss,” Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad said. “We have to find a way to just stop the bleeding and get a win. [We have] an opportunity in the outdoor game on a big stage.”

Anthony Beauvillier gave Washington a 1-0 lead at 12:27 of the first period with a one-timer from the bottom of the right face-off circle after a backhand pass across the slot from Ryan Leonard.

Vincent Trocheck tied it 1-1 at 19:20 on a deflection in front of Panarin’s point shot.

Wilson’s 20th goal of the season gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead at 7:33 of the second period. He received a pass from Connor McMichael and beat Quick from above the crease.

Sourdif extended the lead to 3-1 at 11:12 during a power play. Alex Ovechkin’s centering pass deflected off the skate of Rangers defensemen Will Borgen, and Sourdif backhanded the loose puck past Quick.

“I know [Ovechkin] throws a lot of pucks to the net, and that’s how you score goals,” Sourdif said. “Whether it goes off a couple of skates and then it ends up on your stick, I just go to the net when he has the puck on his stick and good things will happen.”

Fox, who hadn’t played since Nov. 29, cut it to 3-2 at 15:17, scoring on a one-timer from the center point during a power play.

“I think it might be the hardest shot I’ve ever seen him take,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. “It was bomb. Nice play by Mika. Good play all around. We’ve been trying to encourage him to establish that shot from the top of the power play.”

Fox played 21:13 and was minus-1 in his return.

“Playing, not playing, you’re looking at the standings every day and how tight it is,” Fox said. “These division games are massive, so obviously I’m trying to come back and have make an impact and help the team as best I can.”

Protas restored the two-goal lead at 13:34 of the third period when he redirected a pass from Rasmus Sandin from the slot to make it 4-2.

Wilson gave the Capitals a 5-2 lead when he scored again at 16:37, getting to a loose puck and scoring with a wrist shot from between the circles.

It was his 200th NHL goal.

“I take a lot of pride in this team and my focus all year has been here, and it’s going to continue to be here until we get on that plane [to Italy]," Wilson said.

Braden Schneider cut it to 5-3 at 18:16 with a wrist shot on the rush, but Sourdif scored into an empty net at 19:11 for the 6-3 final.

NOTES: Wilson reached the 20-goal mark for the fifth time. His career high is 33, set last season. Wilson and Sourdif were each plus-3. … New York forwards Noah Laba (upper body) and Conor Sheary (lower body) each left the game in the second period. Sullivan said they were still being evaluated. … Rangers forward Will Cuylle blocked six shots in 18:08.