Artemi Panarin, Rangers Thrill NHL Fans in Game 1 Win vs. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The New York Rangers sure looked like the NHL's best team on Sunday.

Led by goals from Matt Rempe, Artemi Panarin and Jimmy Vesey—all within just over two minutes of each other in a frantic second period—the Rangers beat the Washington Capitals, 4-1, claiming Game 1 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

NHL @NHL

THE REMPIRE STATE BUILDING GETS MSG ON ITS FEET! 💪 <a href="">#StanleyCup</a><br><br>🇺🇸: <a href="">@espn</a> ➡️ <a href=""> <a href="">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href=""> <a href="">

x - New York Rangers @NYRangers

Come for the Breadman goal.<br>Stay to hear <a href="">@TheGarden</a> ERUPT. <a href="">

x - New York Rangers @NYRangers

Jimmy off the draw. <a href="">

Martin Fehervary scored the lone goal for Washington, just over a minute after Vesey capped the Rangers' goal bonanza.

x - Washington Capitals @Capitals

That's the first career playoff goal for Marty Party <a href="">

Chris Kreider capped the scoring on a third-period breakaway, setting a Rangers' postseason record with his 41st goal, while Barclay Goodrow added two assists for New York.

x - New York Rangers @NYRangers

A thing of beauty. <a href="">

No team scored more points during the regular season than these Rangers (114), which included a regular-season split with the Capitals. And Sunday's very convincing performances had fans and pundits alike feeling that a big postseason might be on tap:

Tony Gunk @real_tonygunk

Rangers in the second period <a href="">

Day @DemetroD35663

I know they are playing Washington but the Rangers look pretty good <a href="">

x - Just a Jeter Fan @JustAJeterFan

Me on my couch watching the Rangers drop 4 on the Caps! <a href="">#LGR</a> <a href="">#NYR</a> <a href="">

Lou @ImmortalLou30

rangers 4th line today <a href="">

Gary Wien @Lighty99

<a href="">#nyr</a> playoff game one is in the books! I wanted a 4-0 win, but I'll gladly take the 4-1 result. <br><br>Strong games by 4th line, Shesty and Panarin. I thought Key and Schneider were very good as well. <br><br>Off to a good start :)

Mike Mooney @MikeMooney25

Great weekend at The Garden!<br>1 down, 15 to go for the Knicks and Rangers.<br>Or more like 2 down, 30 to go if we want the complete dream of two championships<a href="">#NewYorkForever</a> <a href="">#NoQuitInNY</a>

Chris @MD10Chris

Just too much firepower for the <a href="">#Caps</a> to handle from the Rangers. There is a reason they won the Presidents Trophy.<br><br>The East is murder in the <a href="">#StanleyCupPlayoffs</a> this year, too. The Rangers, Boston, Tampa, Florida and Carolina all have legitimate claims to the Cup.<a href="">#ALLCAPS</a>

Derek @NewYorkPuck

This is a textbook third period by the Rangers. They've completely shut down the Capitals. Good defense led to the Kreider put away on the break. <a href="">#NYR</a>

Jack Stern @j_stern97

The last Kreider goal locked this game in as a good 'ole ass whopping for the <a href="">#Rangers</a>. <br><br>Outstanding job controlling the 2nd and 3rd periods. Scoreboard reflects their dominance. <a href="">#NYR</a>

Ryan Hickey @Ryan_Hickey3

The perfect, and I mean PERFECT, start to the postseason for the Rangers. 4th line was outstanding, whole team was aggressive, didn't get baited into stupid penalties and Igor was very good.<br><br>Did what a great team should do to an inferior one: choke the life out of them<a href="">#NYR</a>

Paul Bissonnette @BizNasty2point0

Than Panarin strikes next shift the floodgates are open. Over in 4. Rempe got the engine running.

The Rangers defense was superb, holding the Capitals to just 21 shots, with Igor Shesterkin deftly handling 20 of them. This was a complete performance.

And the Big Apple is so hype for these Rangers, even the New York Yankees were showing them the love on Sunday:

Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner

Juan Soto walked out of the Yankees clubhouse wearing an Artemi Panarin jersey for all you New York Rangers fans.

It's a special time in New York. The Rangers, Islanders and Knicks are in the postseason. The Yankees have started 15-7 behind the star power of Juan Soto, and the Mets are 12-8. The NFL draft is upcoming for the Jets and Giants, where hope springs eternal.

But no team in the city looks better than these Rangers. One down, 15 to go.