Will Cuylle scored twice in a span of 2:40 during a five-goal second period on the way to his first career hat trick and the host New York Rangers prevented the Washington Capitals from gaining ground in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race with an 8-1 rout on Sunday night.

Washington (39-30-9, 87 points) fell three points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second and final wild-card spot. The Capitals also trail the New York Islanders by two points and are one point behind the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets. Three of those four teams have a game in hand on Washington.

Cuylle gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead 5:53 into the second when he cut to the edge of the crease and used his stick for a redirection of a pass by Braden Schneider into the open net. He scored again by sending a shot from the left circle by Charlie Lindgren immediately upon exiting the penalty box.

Cuylle finished off the hat trick in the final minute of the contest on a shot from the slot.

J.T. Miller used his skate at the left edge of the crease to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead during a power play 3:07 into the second after Mika Zibanejad’s shot banked off Lindgren’s pad.

Rookie Adam Sykora and Adam Fox also scored during the big period as the Rangers (33-36-9, 75 points) won for the fifth time in six games following a six-game losing streak (0-5-1).

It marked the second straight day New York earned a lopsided win over a playoff contender after Saturday’s 4-1 win over Detroit.

Lindgren made 35 saves in Washington’s 1-0 win in New York on Oct. 12 but struggled immensely in his first game since March 12 at Buffalo. He recorded 24 saves, but tied a career worst by allowing eight goals for the second time in his career.

Connor McMichael scored Washington’s only goal on a breakaway at 13:45 of the first period to tie the game at 1. Washington allowed seven-plus goals against the Rangers for the second time this season and conceded at least seven goals for the second time in three games.

Connor Sheary scored on a rebound from in front of the net 23 seconds into the contest, and Vincent Trocheck tallied 2:27 into the third to make it 7-1.

New York goalie Igor Shesterkin made 20 saves.

–Field Level Media