File photo: You, while watching this game (Photo courtesy of You)
Without Holtby but not without hope, the Washington Capitals played desperate hockey on a thrilling Friday night duel with the New York Islanders. Down one game to none, the Caps started out without distinction. Into the two-goal hole they went …and then out again they came, furious and scoring.
If you believe in the Caps, this game is why.
Like last game, the Isles struck early– this time with Cal Clutterbuck scoring on a 2-on-1 rush just five minutes in. Ryan Strome’s second-period marker put the Caps in a two-goal hole, but Karl Alzner’s huge goal got the home team into the game. Kyle Okposo scored a seeming dagger shortly after, but a stellar rally by Washington led to Alex Ovechkin’s kanooblian goal just before the second intermission.
The Capitals drew their first penalty in the third period, so Nick Backstrom carved through the Isles defense to tie the game at three goals apiece. Jason Chimera, yes, Jason Chimera, gave the Caps the lead by conducting laser surgery on his own rebound after Nick Leddy choked up the puck.
Caps beat Isles 4-3! Series is tied 1-1!
- Most of period one looked no better than game one. The Capitals played heavy, wherein heavy is a synonym for slow. The Islanders had the speed and the access to the offensive zone. Most of the Caps attempts went wide, which I think is more flukey than anything else. Down a goal going into intermission, the Caps had plenty of motivation to do what they did in the second period.
- What they did in the second period was a thing of beauty. Charts don’t normally make me cry, but this one– particularly after the halfway mark– stirs up some deep feelings in me I usually consult only when reading Faulkner or watching How to Train Your Dragon.
Holy Caps http://t.co/TdpSxDHxvW pic.twitter.com/b5xtDWWCOs
— hockeystats.ca (@HockeyStatsCa) April 18, 2015
- That rally was capped off by a goal from captain Alex Ovechkin. The tally, the epitome of kanooblian crash-the-net hockey, saved this team and literally dozens of RMNB readers from despair. Ovi had nowhere near the shot volume he had on Wednesday, but he made these count.
- That goal came with Nick Backstrom as Ovechkin’s pivot, something that didn’t occur until halfway into the game (and yes, I need to send a free Kuzy koozy to someone). I can’t believe I’m typing this, but Nick Backstrom had a quiet three-point game. His was the tying goal, a one-on-three drive to the net when he did the unexpected– i.e. not passing to Ovi. Monster game from the silent Swedish superstar.
@russianmachine there is no baseball at a hockey game!! Doubly so in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/ubZHisFp2t
— Martin OConnor (@Enocssa) April 18, 2015
- Like I’ve been saying allll seaaaaassonnnnn, Jason Chimera is the man. For the first time in 107 minutes this series, the Caps took the lead when Chim-dawg grabbed his own rebound and shot the impossible shot. I have no idea how it went in, and I might not understand until I too am hated on from afar by a nigh-anonymous agoraphobe blogger. Bravo, Jason Chimera, me Bookie.
- The Capitals went without a power play until the third period, but then I did this and you’re welcome.
@russianmachine whoa
— RMNB (@rmnb) April 18, 2015
- We’ll linger on the offense because it’s thrilling, but the Caps starved the Isles of offense too. New York had 7 shots in the first, 7 more in the second, and 7 in the third. That’s respectable playoff hockey.
- Philipp Grubauer earned a W in his first playoff appearance, filling in for Braden Holtby, who probably has the trotz.
Joe B suit of the night
It’s too fresh for me to say something clever. All I’ve got is this: things looked grim and then things looked great. The hockey this Caps team played when it mattered most was some of the best hockey I’ve seen them play since you-know-when. It’s enough to make you think lofty thoughts about Caps hockey in May.
But that’s fanciful. We’ve got real life ahead of us. The Caps tonight will travel to the Island in preparation for Sunday’s nooner. They’ll bring with them a world of pride, and rightfully so. This was a great damn hockey game.
Go Caps.
