"[Grubauer] was outstanding in the first, especially," Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen said. "We're shaking off the rust a bit, but the second two periods is a step in the right direction."
Zuccarello gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 8:37 of the third period. He scored off a pass from Chris Kreider seconds after a faceoff win in the left circle by Mika Zibanejad, who used his forehand to push it to Kreider on his left side. Kreider dashed toward the net and found Zuccarello open between the hash marks.
Ovechkin's 12th power-play goal of the season tied the game at 1-1 with 2:36 remaining in the second period. He got a pass from Brett Connolly in the left circle and took a wrist shot that hit off of Rangers defenseman Nick Holden and got past Lundqvist.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead on McDonagh's third goal of the season at 7:49 of the first period.
New York appeared to have a 2-0 lead on a goal from Zibanejad at 16:45 of the second period, but Capitals coach Barry Trotz used a coach's challenge claiming that McDonagh was offside prior to the zone entry that led to the goal. The ruling on the ice was overturned and 25 seconds was put back on the clock.
"I didn't even realize I must have picked up my leg there," McDonagh said. "Obviously the wrong leg. It's good we didn't get frustrated and continued to play."