Photo: Chris Young
The Capitals came into the Air Canada Centre looking flat, getting outshot 16-4 in the opening frame. That’s understandable, given the Caps were playing back-to-back games, their seventh match in 11 nights. The Toronto Maple Leafs, meanwhile, hadn’t played since the 23rd of November. They came out swinging, wanting one last win against the boys from Arlington before Steve Whyno relocates back to the National Capital Region.
Jason Chimera, Whyno’s biggest admirer, made sure the Leafs would not get it. After a nice save by Braden Holtby, Chimmer used his speed to go two-on-one up the ice. His shot wasn’t great, but it was enough to beat Jonathan Bernier, who hadn’t played since November 15.
The Leafs got the goal back when the fourth line failed to clear the defensive zone. Maybe Tom Wilson and Michael Latta were tired after carrying all of Brooks Laich’s Black Friday shopping.
Wilson must have been rejuvenated in the second, as he picked up a loose puck in front, did a move from the Nutcracker, scored his first goal in his hometown and his first since March 3. Later in the second, Toronto tied it again when Leo Komarov deflected a puck past Braden Holtby on the power play.
The man advantage was the story of the rest of the night, as Marcus Johansson expertly deflected an Alex Ovechkin PP Bomb into the net for his second goal in as many games. Justin Williams added Washington’s fourth of the net off a brilliant assist from Jason “Yes, That One” Chimera. Nothing in the third. Caps beat Leafs 4-2.
- Important first period analysis.
https://twitter.com/chris_gordon/status/670772219824484353
- It was bad. Outshot 16-4, out-attempted 25-16. Combined with Tampa’s 20 shots in the third period on Friday, that meant Braden Holtby faced 36 shots in just 40 minutes of play. He had not seen as many in an entire game before that.
- Holtby: studly as always. The best numbers of his career come on Saturday night and he continued the trend tonight, turning aside 31 shots. Braden leads the NHL in goals against average and wins, with three more victories than the number two, Henrik Lundqvist. He has a career-high seven straight wins.
- Jason Chimera: just entering his prime. Chimmer has six power play points in nine games. He has had two fantastic primary assists on PPGs in the last two games. And he scored. Ten points in nine games. Huh? Team high four shots on goal as well.
- The third line was really good overall as well. Just about the only line with solid possession numbers.
- Marcus Johansson is so soft, which is why he’s scored two goals in two nights by crashing the net. It’s luck, but it’s not.
- The Caps power play is just deadly right now. After going three for four on Friday, they were two for four tonight. The Caps are 11-0-0 when they score on the power play.
- Five straight wins for the Caps. Woot!
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“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.” – Voltaire
You’ve read. Now let’s dance. The Caps are first in the Metro, second in the East, third in the League. Celebrate, commentariat!
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