Braden Holtby, file photo.
The Caps looked so freaking ready for the playoffs during Wednesday’s blowout win over the Boston Bruins.
John Carlson scored in the first, taking a cross-ice pass from Nick Backstrom and shooting high glove. Backstrom also pinched in on the next goal, a cannon by Matt Niskanen. In the second period, Marcus Johansson scored his 20th of the season off a wonderful pass by Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Braden Holtby looked a god among insects in the third period.
Caps beat Bruins 3-0. Holtby’s league-leading 9th shutout of the season.
- Assisting on the game’s first two goals, Nick Backstrom has now collected 59 apples, leading the league… for now. I like that both of those goals came off the sticks of defensemen and both came at even strength. More, more, MOAR.
- I made a big deal of the Caps’ new young guns in the Sunday snapshot, which I posted on Monday because I’m punk rock. On Wednesday, the all-rookie fourth line of Michael Latta, Andre Burakovsky, and Stan Galiev was somehow Washington’s best. Galiev, playing in his first NHL game, wasn’t quite at home in neutral, but had some good moves with and without the puck in the offensive zone.
Three reasons why I hate NBC Sports in one image. (Not you, Brooks.)
- Less good was the Brooks Laich line, which seemed to be used for match-ups mostly. I hope Trotz doesn’t fancy Jason Chimera a shutdown forward right now. That said, Chimera’s hustle did yield a rare Caps power play when it led to Krug’s interference.
- Wait, I’m not done talking about the young guys. Did you see Evgeny Kuznetsov with his monster pass to Alex Ovechkin (a saved one-timer) and his smart pass to Marcus Johansson (Mojo’s 20th goal of the season)? The Caps have a bright future, even after Ovi hits the gross old age of 30.
- No goals for Ovi, but he did get knocked in the jaw by David Krecji. No call. Caps hockey.
- Brett Connolly slewfooted (is that the verb?) Joel Ward late in the game, which is such a shitty Boston move to pull.
- All this talk of offense might obscure the volume of dangerous chances the Bruins had all night. The Caps didn’t exactly stifle the Bruins’ offense– they just had a far better backstop. I shall dedicate conclusion to him.
Braden Holtby has shut out the Bruins in every game this season. That’s like almost 90 saves on 90 shots– or however many shots it is exactly, it’s also that number of saves. Holtby is now in a three-way tie (Price, Fleury) for the league lead in shutouts. He won’t win the Vezina, but he’s been sterling in net all season for the Caps– with a franchise record in consecutive starts and more than 2000 shots faced, Holtby has a good case to make as the team’s most valuable player. (But if we’re talking about the Hart Trophy, there are a whole lot more trappings involved in that.)
Alright, one more game left. The Caps look pretty excellent right now– in net, on the blue line, and even with the younglings staffing their bottom lines. These are some high times. Let’s enjoy them.
