The New York Rangers are trying to stay confident as their season continues to slip away. The Washington Capitals beat them 7-4 on Saturday to give them 16 losses in their past 21 games.

The mounting losses have eroded nearly every part of the Rangers’ game, even the one that was once a foundational piece of their success.

The Rangers had come into Washington having stopped a four-game losing streak Thursday in Madison Square Garden against Boston. But they couldn’t build on it, and with the loss, the Rangers (17-20-1) have now failed to win consecutive games since they won three straight from Nov. 14-19.

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin hasn't skipped a beat, and he delivered once again against the New York Rangers. Ovechkin had the game-winner and an assist, and the Capitals rediscovered their spark in a 7-4 win over the Rangers.

WASHINGTON (AP ... dollar question” to $8.5 million center Mika Zibanejad. “What’s our option?” Zibanejad said after the Washington Capitals beat the Rangers 7-4 on Saturday.

WASHINGTON (AP ... dollar question” to $8.5 million center Mika Zibanejad. “What’s our option?” Zibanejad said after the Washington Capitals beat the Rangers 7-4 on Saturday.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 872nd career goal to move 23 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record, and the Washington Capitals beat the struggling ... a turnover by Ovechkin and Filip Chytil and Mika Zibanejad scored in the third period to make things ...

New York Rangers alternate captain Mika Zibanejad shared his thoughts ... The Rangers suffered a 7-4 loss at the hands of the Washington Capitals on Saturday. It has now taken their season record ...

Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad had a frank assessment of what he and his teammates must do after their latest loss.

As New York’s season continues on an upward trend, now 5-1-2 in the New Year, having a healthy Kreider in the lineup provides yet another boost with the Rangers (21-20-3) trying to climb back into the playoff race after a dismal two-month stretch of hockey put them on the outside looking in.

Kirby Dach scored twice and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Utah Hockey Club 5-3 on Tuesday night. Mike Matheson, Patrik Laine and Cole Caufield also scored for Montreal, which has won eight of its last 10.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko scored in the shootout as the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night.