The view from MSG’s bridge, from Caps Road Crew
Brutal weekend. Or at least it would have been without the best player in the NHL, Alex Ovechkin. The New York Rangers looked speedy and cohesive, whereas the Capitals looked discombobulated and panicky– but Alex Ovechkin grabbed this game by the horns and tamed it like a folk hero. Jason Chimera had a huge third period, and all of a sudden a nightmare weekend wasn’t so bad after all.
Alex Ovechkin started us off just four minutes in, carrying the puck into the Rangers zone and using the D as a screen to beat Cam Talbot. The next two goals belonged to New York: the first Kevin Hayes’ solo effort after John Carlson’s woeful turnover, the second Derek Brassard’s rush goal after Niskanen’s bad pinch.
Ovechkin struck again in the second period, using Joel Ward as a screen to knot the game heading into the final period.
Jason Chimera scored twice (I know, right?!) in the third period– both times by crashing the net and both times with the help of Brooks Laich and Eric Fehr. Marcus Johansson got the empty netter as soon as Cam Talbot left the crease.
Caps beat Rangers 5-2.
I can’t believe this was a Bailamos game.
- I’m not sure I have the words to describe Alex Ovechkin. Maybe three come to mind, and I’ll just give you the initialism: MVP. Ovechkin was the only reason this game was even remotely winnable instead of demoralizing. He scored at evens, he scored on the power play, and he failed to get a hat trick in a multi-goal game for the 14th time this season (!!!). Ovi’s next goal is going to be a big one for multiple reasons. I feel like if we don’t take the time to appreciate him now, we’ll regret it later. Ovi best.
- Ovechkin might have had that hat trick, but Dan Boyle played some of the best crease defense I’ve ever seen, throwing his arm in front of Ovi’s puck and somehow not covering it with his hand, which would’ve earned a penalty shot.
- This has not been a good weekend for John Carlson. I’ll be charitable and say his turnover before the Hayes goal was a freak accident– possibly the result of too much sauce off Gleason’s pass. Without only a couple weeks left, I hope Carly can get past this little slump.
- The trouble wasn’t isolated to Carlson. Bad pinches and bad passes led to a plethora of turnovers. It seemed like every other Rangers attack was an odd-man rush. When that happens, I try to put an extra penny in the Braden Holtby is Great jar– this could’ve been way worse than it was.
- On his 21st birthday, Tom Wilson got yet another reputation call. It was a roughing call, and it was nonsense– but that’s what happens when the refs think they’re losing control of a game and find an easy target. I think Wilson’s looked really good this week– especially when he was off the bottom line. He’s got reason to celebrate tonight– which, by the way, dear god, look out.
- There’s a certain kind of hockey you want to see from a line with Jason Chimera, Brooks Laich, and Eric Fehr. That’s exactly the hockey we got in a tied game, late in the season, against a division rival. Way to make it count. Chimera crashed the net twice and got rewarded twice, recording his first two-goal game since 2011. Chimera’s linemates got well-earned apples on each of those goals.
Joe B suit of the night
In summation, Ovi best)))). And a hearty congratulations to Jason Chimera for playing his best game of the season. Have a great Sunday evening, Caps fans. <3 xoxo
