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Take it to #TheBank: Caps beat Isles 6-2!

By Peter Hassett (@peterhassett) on November 5, 2013 | 0 Comment

Nick Wass

Photo: Nick Wass

Alex Ovechkin had missed the last two games due to an upper-body injury. Returning to active service against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, Alex wanted to make sure we didn’t forget him. As if we ever could. He scored two goals and set up Tom Wilson for his first career NHL goal. That’s your captain right there.

John Tavares scored on the rebound as the Islanders’ power play expired in the first period.

But let’s talk about the second period. Early in the second, John Carlson exploited an Isles goof-up to score his second goal in as many games. Alex Ovechkin scored the most casual powerplay goal ever, but Kyle Okposo returned fire just 17 seconds later. Marcus Johansson was in the right spot as a rebounding puck found his stick on another Caps power play to restore the lead. Tom Wilson got held up on a drive to the net, but set up Alex Urbom from a supine position. Alex Ovechkin scored from the Alex Ovechkin spot on another power play– one set up by some good work by Marcus Johansson in the crease. Wow.

Tom Wilson scored his first NHL goal on third-period power play, tapping in Alex Ovechkin’s pass.

Caps beat Isles 6-2!

Five goals in the second period? Three points for Ovi? Three points for Nick? Tom Wilson’s first NHL assist AND goal? I think you know what’s coming here.

  • Yes. I totally called it:

  • Tom Wilson had one hell of a game. Before his first NHL point, he drew a penalty, fell on his back, and still set up a pass to Alex Urbom, who got his first NHL goal as a Capital. In the third period, Wilson got exactly what I hoped he would: some power play time. He crashed the net to drive in a pass from Alex Ovechkin and record his first NHL goal. A great way to kick off what I hope will be fruitful NHL careers for both Wilson and Urbom.

Related: Tom Wilson’s Future is Not on the Fourth Line

  • The Caps have had painfully slow starts recently. No so much on Tuesday, as the Capitals managed 11 shots (24 attempts) in the first period against a strong possession team. Long Island matched them though and came out with a goal from Tavares.
  • That Tavares goal came right as Mikhail Grabovski‘s penalty time expired, meaning the Capitals began a new PK streak!
  • Just like slow starts, the Caps have also had some explosive second periods of late. Tuesday was no different. The Caps put up four goals in a little over five minutes, reminiscent of the Flyers game and also like every game between 2008 and 2010. SCOAR MOAR GOALS, baby.
  • The Capitals had won without Alex Ovechkin but he was so missed.  His first second-period powerplay goal took all of three seconds. The  Caps won the faceoff cleanly, he skated to get a bit of space, and released a little wrister. He scored again later that period, and then served up an apple to little Tommy Wilson in the third. Not a bad way to get the rust off after missing two games to injury. Hear John Walton call ’em!
  • Marcus Johansson and Nicklas Backstrom deserve a bunch of credit. Backstrom quietly recorded his third 3-point game and 6th multi-point game of the season. Johansson finally got onto the scoresheet by smart positioning, and he added an assist with a great setup on Ovi’s second. Great work all around.
  • The Capitals got penalized a ton– mostly justly, sometimes less so. It doesn’t matter so much when guys like Karl Alzner (who is gonna score soon) and Troy Brouwer do such terrific penalty killing, as they did in the third period. I’m still not in love with the 5v5 defense, but when they’re a man-down? Niiiiiiice.
  • Ya know, the second line doesn’t get much more ice time than the third line. Considering Chimera-Grabo-Ward is probably better than Laich-Johansson-Brouwer, I’m pretty okay with that.
Joe B suit of the night: EYE CONTACT

Joe B suit of the night: EYE CONTACT

Well, that was the best game of the season. The Capitals outpossessed and outscored a solid and improving team in the New York Islanders. They exploded for a SCOAR MOAR GOALS second period. Alex Ovechkin scored two power play goals. Marcus Johansson got his first. Alex Urbom got his first. Tom Wilson got his first NHL goal.

The Capitals are above .500 for the first time since the bronze age, and they take possession of second place in the Metro.

So yeah, that could not have gone better.

The Capitals will play the Wild on Thursday. They don’t suck anymore, so look out.

Whatever you say, Adam. <3

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