Alright, listen. There was a game and the Caps won, but all I really care about is that Nate Schmidt scored. I’m not gonna play it cool and dedicate just a single, solemn bullet to Nate’s goal because you will all know I’m being disingenuous.
So here, up front, is John Walton calling Nate Schmidt’s goal.
And up top is a photo of him being happy because that’s what he does. That’s what relentlessly positive Nate Schmidt does.
And here’s what I looked like after the goal.
Anyway, the Caps beat the Bruins. John Carlson also scored. Holtby got a shutout. Let’s talk about it.
Caps beat Bruins 2-0.
- The Caps began the game better than they have in months, recording 14 shot attempts in the first 4:15. Those first sequences, mostly by Ovi’s and Fehr’s lines, were the best of the game. That pace couldn’t and didn’t last, but it sure was fun, and I hope speaks volumes about the team’s motivation to reverse the trend of the last week and month.
- The Schmidtuation. That was Nate Schmidt‘s first goal this season. He had two last season. He’ll have dozens more in the rest of his long and fruitful career. Dude is a gamer. You heard it here first and most often.
- Nick Backstrom is your franchise leader in assists. Eat it, Pivonka! (I loved Pivonka.) Wildest part: according to the NHL, Backstrom wasn’t even on the ice for #420!
- Chris Conner, journeyman AHLer and recent call-up, committed two penalties in his first game as a Capital. Any bets on if it’s also Conner’s last game as a Capital?
- The Capitals had variable success in neutral tonight. When they carried, they got lots of zone time. When they dumped, they did not. Sometimes you gotta dump, I get that, but when the Caps went into a defensive shell with twenty minutes to go, why didn’t they press for a few more carry-ins? Would’ve made the load on Holtby a bit lighter.
- Tom Wilson is a drama king. Trouble just follows him around. On the top line for the first time since game 35, Wilson did what Wilson does: throw big hits, take big hits, and draw penalties. He is amazing at it. Here’s him getting creamed by Marchand in the first period.
- Alex Ovechkin should not block shots. I’m not sure he meant to block this shot. If he did, he should endeavor not to do it again. Ovi didn’t miss any time, but I bet his belly is gonna have a nasty bruise on it tomorrow.
- The Evgeny Kuznetsov line was pretty bad tonight, though they had some flashes of brilliance– especially when Kuzy and Curtis Glencross were on the rush. Kuznetsov had a couple exciting drives to the net, plus he got away with a high stick on Brad Marchand and then elbowed the ratty little dude in the face, which is just splendid.
- Braden Holtby was sublime, recording his eighth shutout of the season. And he did it in style! Brushing off some dirtbaggy interference (unpunished, natch) from the Bs in the process as well as having a freaky awareness of where rogue pucks were at every moment. Holtbest.
This was badly needed. This win restores a miserable home stand for Washington. It stifles the surging Bruins, who had won five in a row to catch and pass the Capitals in the standings. It comes despite a bunch of injuries and illnesses currently affecting the Caps. It puts a healing salve on having to pull Braden Holtby last game. It sets the tone for the final 12 games of this season.
And Nate scored!
Good game, good night.
