Jason Chimera and Jason Arnott scored 1:57 apart early in the second period and Michal Neuvirth made 22 saves as the top-seeded Washington Capitals skated to a 2-0 home victory over the New York Rangers on Friday to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Alex Ovechkin, Marcus Johansson, Brooks Laich and Mike Green each notched an assist for the Capitals, who were 1-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 16 shots for New York, which hosts Game 3 on Sunday.

Neither team scored in the first period for the second straight game, but Washington got to Lundqvist twice in the early stages of the second session to seize control.

Johansson received a pass from Laich and immediately dished the puck to Chimera, who beat Lundqvist from the low slot at 2:11 to put the Capitals ahead. Less than two minutes later, Arnott buried a rebound from the left faceoff circle during a power play for his 31st career playoff goal and a 2-0 lead.

Neuvirth stopped 13 shots in the first period, three in the second and six in the third for his first playoff shutout. The 23-year old goaltender has allowed one goal on 47 shots in his first two career postseason games.