Photo: Graig Abel
At the end of this season, Jason Chimera will be 37. Nevertheless, the bottom-sixer known for his hands of stone is undergoing a revival. On November 11 against Philadelphia, Chimera scored two power play goals, his first game on the man advantage this season. In his nine games on the power play, Chimera has six points.
“Just a fine wine,” Chimera said, comparing himself to another high quality aged product. “Like French Oak or the new stuff, the steel cask maybe.”
On Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chimera tallied his second beautiful primary assist on the power play in as many nights with perfectly executed backhand pass to Justin Williams for Washington’s fourth goal, while also scoring the game’s first marker.
“It’s just fun to play anytime you get some chances to play on the power play,” Chimera said after Saturday’s game. “When you play with Kuz and those guys it’s pretty easy to play with. It’s nice to help the team out. You want to prove to yourself you beyond out there and you want to stay there. You want to earn that ice time and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
“He’s bringing a lot of energy to the PP,” goalie Braden Holtby said. “That’s great. Chim’s going out there and making things happen. That’s why he’s getting rewarded for it. It’s huge. He’s grasping that role and doing very well with it.”
Chimera now has seven goals through 23 games this year, tying the amount he had all of last season. His 14 assists are just five off his 2014-15 total. Chimera has 10 points in his last nine games and led the Capitals in shots on goal on Saturday.
“[It’s] the start of the second half of his career here,” Nate Schmidt said with a laugh after Friday’s game. “He’s making plays. That’s all we can ask for.”
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