Photo: Brian Babineau
Sore over losing a well-played game on Thursday, the Capitals came out blazing against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Spurred by a two-spot from the captain, the Caps had this one covered early– but a sterling effort from Braden Holtby made it a lock.
Alex Ovechkin kicked his season off with an Ovi goal from the Ovi spot on the power play. Before the first frame was over, Ovi added another– this time at evens, but again assisted by Nick Backstrom.
The second PP unit made it 3-0 in the second period as Mike Green swept in a one-timer from the weak side.
In the third, Andre Burakovsky fed John Carlson in the high slot to make it 4-0 [Update: The goal is now credited to Joel Ward]. The Bruins got cranky and cantankerous and canker sore but couldn’t score because they stink.
Caps beat Bruins 4-0. Holtby is the best.
- SHUT OUT FOR BRADEN HOLTBY. 29 saves, nearly half of em in the first period. Vezina or bust!
- Area baseball makes me sad. Good hockey doesn’t make me unsad. Chugging a Surge after popping Benadryl doesn’t neutralize the effect.
- Bobby Robins, who should really be named Robby Robins, was a curious addition for the Bruins. He’s a marginally talented facepuncher who is liable to get dominated in all the metrics that determine who wins or loses games. I was happy the Bs signed him, but less happy when he kneed Matt Niskanen. Robins then tussled with Michael Latta, but I only mention this because…
- Alex Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season just eight seconds into the ensuing power play. It was from the Ovi spot, but you already knew that.
- Ovi, who must have been furious about not scoring on Thursday, got his second just seven minutes later, seizing on a loose puck in the low slot. That’s your captain. Ovi had 4 shots in all of Thursday, but he put 7 on net on Saturday.
- Recently reconstituted stud Brooks Laich blocked a nasty shot during a second-period penalty kill. The stinger hobbled Laich, but he kept playing. After a multi-year battle with injury, every nick and scratch makes me apoplectic.
- The other Brooks, Brooks Orpik, had another hard-hitting night but got buried in shot attempts. Again: Brooks is being used overwhelmingly in the defensive zone, so there are extenuating circumstances. For now, the most salient conclusion I can share is maybe you shouldn’t have drafted Orpik’s partner, John Carlson, in fantasy.
- I wrote that last sentence before Carlson scored.
- Opposite side of the spectrum: Matt Niskanen is excellent. It’s like having a second Mike Green, though– and I stress this– that doesn’t make the first Mike Green disposable. Greenie, in his first game back, got his first marker of the year on the power play and played a surprisingly physical game. He even got under the skin of Milan Lucic, who is an absurdly overvalued player.
- No way the Caps send Andre Burakovsky down to Hershey after game nine. No way. He’s winning the Calder race right now.
Joe B suit of the night
I like it! The Caps got outshot like crazy, but much of that is the consequence of going up 2-0 in the first period and then playing defensively to protect the lead. We saw the captain make up for a quiet performance on Thursday and fireworks from the second power play unit.
There is nothing not to like tonight. Or if there is, I’m too gracious to mention it.
Have a great Saturday night, Caps fans!
