The anteater summons the Beagle (Photo: Andre Ringuette)
The clash of the capitals cities got off to a slow start. Twenty minutes in Ottawa came and went before either the Washington Capitals or Ottawa Senators got on the scoreboard, and then in the span of two minutes and two seconds, the game was all but decided.
Holtby earned his 10th and final perfect consecutive regulation period in the first before surrendering one to Kyle Turris in the second– though I’d blame some weak defense for that one. The Caps were unfazed and struck back for two goals– first from Evgeny Kuznetsov and then a wild home-run shot from Alex Ovechkin to put the Caps in the lead and tie Rick Nash for the league’s scoring lead.
The Caps fought off every penalty kill possible in the third and finally got one of their own late to no result. Laich shanked the empty-net chance and it was over.
Caps beat Senators 2-1!
- The first period whooshed by like boreas. Whistles were few and far between, which was quite pleasant for those wanting free-flowing hockey action and rather upsetting if you’re an English bulldog who needs to pee.
- That was some fast hockey, but then it was over. The Capitals took four penalties in under ten minutes at the end of the second and beginning of the third. The Caps killed them all, but earned just one power play of their own against the team that has gone shorthanded more than 25 other teams in this league.
- From the Awesome Index: “Thus it is proven: every other game, Alex Ovechkin does something bonkers.” Tonight’s edition of bonkers Ovi was a spat of huge hits and a novel goal slapped in mid-air. I wanted two goals though.
- Ovi’s goal came during a shift with Jay Beagle, and don’t even get me started on that. Shut up. Don’t.
- I thought Mike Green was done for good when Chris Phillips went knee-on-knee in the first period. I really did. I thought this was his last game in Washington. I was already getting nostalgic for hand tattoos and muscle milk and vespas, but then Green took another shift and I realized that I maybe need to not jump to conclusions so much. Still, that’s gonna be a bruise tomorrow and the Caps have like NO defensive depth.
- Braden Holtby’s okay, I guess, but he really should of had that one where the Fehr line and Green pairing were totally incompetent in front of him. After a twenty-second-plus panic session in the paint wherein he got no support from his skaters, Holtby is going to want that one back. Those are the ones you got to have if you want to be as good as Marc Andre Fleury at goalieing.
- The Senators really only have one dangerous line, Kyle Turris‘, the one that scored tonight. Other than that, the Caps were able to trot up the ice at will. It wasn’t a particularly good game by Washington, but it didn’t really have to be.
- I can’t take Jack Hillen anymore. Mike Green probably wasn’t good tonight even if isolated from number 38, but it’s pretty clear who’s dragging down whom. Hillen does block shots though, which is good, I guess. I don’t know. I’m reaching. Great jawline?
- I really thought Ovi was gonna score on that late power play. Wide open net, just yawning for him. Should’ve– sorry, should of been another two-goal game per the every other game theory..
Joe B suit of the night
No time to be cocky. This was a tight one but a happy result. Now the Caps are coming home for a Friday night meet-up with Bench Boss Boose Boudreau and the red-hot Anaheim Ducks (7-3-0 in last 10).
Go Caps.
