Ryan Strome nets pair, Anthony Bitetto gets a goal as Rangers beat Capitals

The schedule toughened for the Rangers when Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals visited Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. But the Rangers toughened up, too, showing the Caps and the rest of the NHL’s East Division that they are a team to be reckoned with this season.

Ryan Strome scored two goals, Artemi Panarin had three assists and Long Island product Anthony Bitetto scored his first goal since Nov. 18, 2017, in his second game as a Ranger as the Blueshirts beat the Capitals, 4-2. It was their second victory in a row and third in their last four games.

"The last little bit’s been much better hockey on our [part], I think,’’ said Strome, who has four goals and two assists, all in the last six games. "All year we haven’t really had too many stinker games, other than that first one [a 4-0 loss to the Islanders in the season opener]. So it’s nice to kind of get in the win column the last few nights and, you know, find ways to win.

"I think with such a short season and playing the same teams over and over again, some nights it’s just about finding a way to win, and today I thought we did that.’’

Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin was brilliant, making 31 saves to earn his third consecutive victory.

Shesterkin made a left pad save on Ovechkin’s breakaway 50 seconds into the game and had an impressive save on Tom Wilson’s shot less than 10 seconds into the second period.

"I feel better and better in net, and I think this might have been my best game of the season so far,’’ Shesterkin said through interpreter Max Gratchev. "I’m looking ahead and hopefully going to continue in this direction.’’

He did allow a goal by Ovechkin, who scored in the third period. It was his 709th goal, and he passed former Ranger Mike Gartner for sole possession of seventh place on the NHL goals list.

The Rangers (4-4-2), who climbed out of last place in the division, took a 2-0 lead on

Strome’s first goal at 1:41 of the first period — a tip-in of a shot by Adam Fox — and Bitetto’s goal at 9:15 of the second.

Former Ranger Carl Hagelin got the Capitals on the board with a fluky goal at 18:57 of the period when he drove the net and the rebound of a shot by Garnet Hathaway hit him on the shin pad and popped over Shesterkin’s catching glove to make it 2-1.

Brett Howden’s slashing penalty with 9.2 seconds left in the second period meant the Rangers would open the third period having to kill a penalty. They did,

and Strome’s second goal put them up 3-1 at 7:55. But when Ovechkin scored at 11:01, the Rangers suddenly had to protect a one-goal lead with plenty of time left.

They did it, and Pavel Buchnevich’s empty-net goal with 26.7 seconds left sealed it. Panarin, who assisted on both Strome goals and tried to set up Strome for a hat trick with the empty net, got an assist.

The victory extended a string of games in which the Rangers have earned points to four (3-0-1), giving them seven of a possible eight points in that stretch.

"I liked a lot about our game right from the get-go,’’ coach David Quinn said. "I thought we were all dialed in; I thought we were mentally and physically ready to go.

"Our penalty kill stood tall again [killing all four Washington power plays] and Shesty had a good night. I thought a bunch of people stepped up tonight . . . I liked how hard we’re defending and good sticks in the D zone and just, listen, we played a real good team tonight and got two crucial points.’’

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.