Photo: Nass Wass
The day got off to a glorious start for the Washington Capitals with Jay Beagle making everyone feel warm and fuzzy and free of scar tissue. The day only got better as the sun pierced the clouds and temperatures reached 66 degrees.
Things got dreary, however, when the Caps took to the ice against the New Jersey Devils. The Devs had a flurry of chances early, outshooting the Washington 11-6, and testing Braden Holtby until he cracked. After Braden went down early on a play in front, Travis Zajac capitalized on some clueless and static defense in the crease by Karl Alzner, Matt Niskanen, TJ Oshie, and Nicklas Backstrom to put the Devils on the board first. But less than two minutes later, Washington’s pitching machine on cocaine, Alex Ovechkin, was able to even the score with a laser-like wrist shot from the near circle after Dmitry Orlov found him alone in front. The Devils, though, soon retook the lead, with Holtby failing to cover the near post on a sharp angle shot from Kyle Palmieri.
For the first 10 minutes of the second period, things were much the same as Washington looked listless against a mediocre team that played the night before. Things changed, however, when Brooks Laich and Michael Latta cycled the puck before Latta severed around two Devils defenders to find Evengy Kuznetsov wide open for the game-tying tally. Washington dominated play after the goal, keeping the Devils to just four shots in period while nearly scoring a few go-ahead goals.
In the third, Reid Boucher scored for the Devils. The Capitals, though, would soon tie the game for the third time as TJ Oshie played pinball to make it 3-3.
THEN BROOKS ORPIK SCORED A GOAL. Caps beat Devils 4-3.
- Braden Holtby had his third meh game in row. He got yanked in Dallas a week ago, allowed a questionable goal or two on Thursday, and misplayed all three of New Jersey’s goals Saturday. He’s still a fantastic goalie, but, like the Caps, he’s been a little less great lately.
- Alex Ovechkin, meanwhile, is running away with the Rocket Richard. He now has nine goals in the month of February and 17 in his last 17 games (plus two assists, including one tonight, his first since January). Ovi has a four goal lead in the NHL goal scoring list despite playing six fewer games than Patrick Kane, the second place man.
- The first half of the game was brutal for second line. Over the first 30 minutes, just under 80 percent even-strength shot attempts went New Jersey’s way. The other top-six trio wasn’t much better.
- This morning, Justin Williams wouldn’t stop telling me “there is no first line.” I guess he was right. Head coach Barry Trotz adjusted according, putting the old top-six back together.
- There was one bright spot for those guys, though it came with the fourth line. With his goal and game-wining assist, Evengy Kuznetsov now has 23 points in his last 16 games. Meanwhile, Brooks Laich, the $4.5 million man, picked up just his second point of 2016.
- TJ Oshie played in his 500 NHL game Saturday night, which is cool I guess. He got a present in the form of a goal where some weird stuff happened. Oshie has 17 goals. If you’re Pat or Peter you feel very strongly about that.
- Dmitry Orlov and Brooks Orpik combined for four points. And the four didn’t come all come from Orlov. The pair played well all night and Orpik scored his first career game winning goal.
So many stripes.
Maybe could win a game 5-2 like the good old days. Just a thought. But hey, 90 points! That’s a lot of points.
