For all intensive purposes, the Caps and Stars are both great teams–to the point that their talent is basically one in the same. In Thursday’s match-up, each team basically had the puck at their beckon call irregardless of the other team’s wishes. It was firewagon hockey. “I could care less,” each team basically said of the other’s attempts at defense, which was a mute point. Instead, offense basically wrecked havoc.
Tyler Seguin gave the Stars some leadway after a daring stretch pass and some net-front fury from Patrick Sharp, which wasn’t goalie interference after all. Nick Backstrom extracted revenge with a big bounce from the back boards to tie the game up before the first intermission.
A scoring pause began in the second period, but ex-Cap Cody Eakin nipped that in the butt in the third period with a heatseeker. In response, Alex Ovechkin became the best Russian scorer ever with a tip-in to tie the game. The Stars restored the lead by stripping John Carlson and getting Jason Spezza to rip a quick shot on net.
Stars beat Caps 3-2.
- Some will mark Thursday as the day Alex Ovechkin passed Sergei Fedorov as the most prolific goal scorer from Russia. I’ve been watching Ovi for ten years and covering him for five; I’m pretty sure the only milestone he cared about was tying the game. Besides, Ovi isn’t the best Russian goal-scorer in the game. He’s the best goal-scorer, period. Don’t believe me? Stand by.
- Also, I retract this column from earlier.
- Also also, some nostalgic symmetry via Katie B:
Backstrom assisted on Fedorov's record-breaking goal in 2008. Tonight, he did the same for Ovechkin.
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) November 20, 2015
- This game came exactly as Pat advertised in the pregamer: tons of shot attempts, lots of action on both ends of the ice. Coaches probably hate it, but I find it much more entertaining than the garbage that the Devils put out for 15 years. Neither the Caps nor the Stars ever ran away with the puck. It was a great game.
- But uniformly so. The Johansson – Kuznetsov – Burakovsky line was abysmal, and the Beagle line wasn’t much better. The top line and the grinders just happened to be super special enough to offset them.
- Taraji [?] Chorney recorded his first assist as a Washington Capital.
- Cody Eakin is one of those guys that haunts Caps fans. The Previous Administration really underestimated the kid.
- The Jason Spezza goal was a travesty. John Carlson got robbed behind the net, and then Jason Chimera was a bit too casual with clearing the high danger area.
- The Capitals should negotiate with the league for a guaranteed power play or two every night. The Stars played a buttoned-up game–either that or the refs put their whistles away.
- Nick Backstrom was sublime. He seemed to be on the attack the whole game. He scored, he assisted Ovi, and he gave Tom Wilson two golden opportunities to score. He’s flawless, except for that penalty he committed.
- However, the Stars power play was either hot garbage or the Caps PK is really cooking.I think it really might be the latter. Zone time was scant for the Stars and they were on their heels for an odd amount of extra-man time.
- Jay Beagle was on with less than two minutes left in the game. Life is funny.
Joe B suit of the night
Personal note: Tomorrow is Ian Oland’s birthday. I think he’s turning 14. He’s got a big heart and he’s charitable with his time. He’s a good friend and a better blogger. Please join me in wishing him many happy returns.
See you Saturday!
