Photo credit: Sean Kilpatrick
The Washington Capitals started something with their first win on Sunday and sought to keep that going against the Ottawa Senators. The Caps brought a sense of coherence and confidence to their game that we haven’t seen in a long time, but the game’s back half started sagging and one bad penalty cost them everything.
The Capitals gave Troy Brouwer his second goal of the year, a net-crashing backhand set up by some hardworking hockey from Wojtek Wolksi and the Caps D-corps. Matt Hendricks deflected Jay Beagle’s wide-angle shot into the net to give the Caps a 2-0 lead. The Senators got on the board with a Condra shot deflected off of Jim O’Brien. Milan Michalek tied it up with a tricky backhand off the faceoff that eluded Neuvirth. Former Cap Sergei Gonchar got the game-winning goal on an undeserved power play in the games final minutes.
Sens beat Caps 3-2.
I’m not really sure what to make of this one. You’re gonna have to help me out.
The Capitals played one or two fantastic periods. The hockey they played in those first two periods could beat most teams in this league, but the third was lacking in offense and made it all too easy for Ottawa to even it up.
The game-winner from Gonch? That’s just what happens when games are officiated by humans. I guess we’re supposed to keep our chins up and hope that bad calls will one day swing our way as well, but bitterness outstrips benevolence right now.
C’est la vie seems like the wrong notion, particularly after a loss in French Canadia. This is a short season, and every point is a bit more precious as a result. The Capitals played winning hockey (or at least OTL-ing hockey) and still came out losers.
So what do we make of that?
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