SCOAR! (Photo credit: Jacquelyn Martin)
After extending their season-high winning streak to six games with Wednesday’s 5-0 blowout win over the Edmonton Oilers, the Capitals tried to keep things in perspective. Following this morning’s pre-game skate, Mike Knuble told the Washington Post’s Katie Carrera that, “I don’t know if we’re hot-hot, but we’re playing better.” Bruce Boudreau even admitted that tonight’s game against the always hard-working Carolina Hurricanes would be “a great test.”
Indeed it would be. Despite chucking 19 shots at Cam Ward through two periods, the Capitals went into the lockerroom facing a 1-0 deficit. Why? Because everyone’s favorite Ruutu brother, Tuomo, converted on a three-on-two odd man break, blasting a slap shot past a screened/interfered-with (you choose) Braden Holtby. The goal, scored with only 36 seconds left in the period, forced the normally chipper Craig Laughlin to lament “goals at the beginning and end of periods are always back-breaking.” Joe Beninati then let us know that the Hurricanes were 21-0-0 when leading after two. Wuh oh.
But then God’s gift to hockey, Alex Ovechkin, decided to do his thing. 47 seconds into the third period, Ovi rifled a twisted wrister past a baffled Ward. Tie game. Then six and a half minutes later, Matt Hendricks showed us again why he was the most valuable player the Capitals picked up over the summer. Jason Arnott, who was sprung on a breakaway after serving a two minute minor for hooking, was initially denied by Ward’s glove. However, a rebound was left in the crease, and Hendricks, who had just killed off Arnott’s hooking penalty, hustled all the way down the ice and chipped home the rebound.
Braden Holtby would then hold the fort down until the final buzzer. Caps clip Canes 2-1!
The Capitals now own a lovely seven game-winning streak heading into a crucial match-up against the Chicago Blackhawks on national tv Sunday. With a win (hopefully with the President in attendance), the Capitals will have swept their three-game home stand.
But that’s not what we’re thinking about right now. In less than 24 hours, we will be hosting RMNB Party 2: Electric Boogaloo at Front Page Arlington from 6pm-12am. We will be raising money for the Brian and Emily St. Louis Family Fund. Please, please come down, pay us a visit, maybe donate a dollar or two, and hang out with us for a few hours. We really can’t wait to see you guys!
Russian Machine Never Breaks is not associated with the Washington Capitals; Monumental Sports, the NHL, or its properties. Not even a little bit.
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