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Stick Em in a Two-Goal Hole +1: Caps beat Devils 4-1

By Peter Hassett

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December 6, 2014 10:40 pm

Julio Cortez

Alzner scores, Alzner gets a the top pic (Photo: Julio Cortez)

Secondary scoring lifted the Capitals to a big divisional road win. With Beagle, Alzner, and Kuznetsov hitting twine, the Capitals were able to fell the New Jersey Devils in a taut, kinda fun game (for the Devs) on a Saturday night.

Karl Alzner, yes, Karl Alzner, scored first, cleaning up off the cycle. Patrik Elias got one for the Devils, tapping in Danius Zubrus’ airborne puck. In the second, Jay Beagle scored a highlight-reel backhand goal to put the Caps up, which Evgeny Kuznetsov added to with a snipe on the power play.

The Devils never climbed out of that two-goal hole. Laich made it three with a lay up in the final minute.

Caps beat Devils 4-1.

SOMEBODY LEFT THE GATE OOOOOOPPEEEEEEENNN

  • The Devils had Alex Ovechkin‘s number, which is eight, but I mean it in a figurative way. The top line got fairly well dominated during 5v5 (sub 40 possession). I did notice, however, that Ovi doesn’t do the d-man-as-a-screen move much anymore, instead opting to make a cross-ice pass to Nick Backstrom. I like it.
  • Karl Alzner is a reluctant shooter. He’s never scored more than two in a season. Tonight he recorded one. Does he have a second in him? His shot attempts are down from last season, but I think he does.
  • Great effort by Evgeny Kuznetsov, coming off a scratch, as well as the whole 2 PP unit. I wanna see more from Kuzy at 5v5, but the glimmers of special stuff are there.
  • With two goals in two games, Jay Beagle is in #beastmode, which is probably a photoshop contest waiting to happen. His goal tonight was a gorgeous drive to the net, which John Walton narrated perfectly.
  • I don’t feel that you people adequately appreciated my twitter comedy tonight.

  • Jaromir Jagr update: two shots on goal, dominated possession, butt like a tree trunk. I hate him; he’s so good.
  • Big shout out to our homeys on the Caps Road Crew. Sam, Rachel, and the whole gang: way to represent.
  • Kinda nuts stuff on special teams. The Caps had a hard time gaining the zone while on the power play, partially because Jersey clogged up the blue line something fierce but also because their tactics might be suspect. The Capitals PK looked unlike themselves, which is to say they looked good.
  • The Caps shelled up pretty hard in the third, which is what we feared and what we expected.
  • Aaaaaand Braden Holtby.
joeb

Joe B suit of the night

When a team is having problems of one type or another, there are two paths to salvation. One is to fix those problems with careful and evidence-based adjustments. The other is to have your goalie go lights-out. The Capitals have gone route two, thanks to Braden Holtby’s electric night at Prudential. He saved 33 of 34, and the one that got by was impossible. He’s been superb for the last 30 days. Franchise goalie. Haters to the left.

Anyway. Good win. Yay points. Go Caps.

Snapshot tomorrow. Woot.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Devils

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