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Hot Start, Cool Finish: Caps beat Senators 4-2

By Peter Hassett

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March 22, 2016 10:09 pm

holtby

All of a sudden, I’ve got an idea for the plot of Taken 4.

The Capitals came into Canadian Tire Centre like a wrecking ball, recording a trio of goals in the opening frame and then holding on for the remaining forty. The Ottawa Senators, it turns out, aren’t very good.

First it was Mike Richards, seizing on a takeaway by Tom Wilson to record his second goal as a Capital. Alex Ovechkin came next, sweeping in a shot on the power play, followed by Nick Backstrom who backhanded a bobbler past Craig Anderson to give the Caps a 3-goal lead.

The sole goal of the second period came from Matt Wideman, an outside fluke obscured by Karl Alzner’s glove. The Senators snuck back into it with 90 seconds left off the stick of Mika Zibanejad, but TJ Oshie beat Karlsson to score the empty netter.

Caps beat Senators 4-2. The Caps have won the Eastern Conference.

  • With the win, Washington has set a fwanchise wecord for woad wins.
  • The Capitals took 8 shots in the first period and scored on 3 of them. That’s a 37.5 shooting percentage. Our friend Derek Miller put it best:

  • It’s a fun thought that the Capitals read articles on RMNB and Japers Rink today and then reacted with an explosive start, but that’s not what happened. I mean, some of them probably read the article, but the Caps’ hot first period wasn’t the result of newfound inspiration or magical thinking– they just hit the back of the net a lot. Still, it was fun and a big relief.
  • I looked up to the lyrics to this song. They’re terrible. Still, warm memories of Z104. Ian would like to add that Justin Williams has a history of rocking out to the P.A. tunes.
  • After the first period, the Senators kicked it into high gear. Barry Trotz was fine with that, rolling his lines and sitting back in protect mode. That yielded a lot of possession for Ottawa but not enough goals to matter.
  • And it was a weird one. Chris Wideman, who I understand is a totally distinct person from Dennis, put an unspectacular wrist shot on net. Braden Holtby would stop that kind of shot 106 times out of 100 if only he were able to see it. For some reason, Karl Alzner reached for the puck and sent it off course. That’s Wideman’s 6th goal, and he’s never even had compartment syndrome.
  • Twenty three goals for T.J. Oshie! Honestly, if he didn’t score tonight, I was gonna be pissed.
  • Nick Backstrom‘s goal looked like something healthy Nick Backstrom would do.
  • Tuesday was Justin Williams’ debut on the top line, and it was terrible. The Ovechkin / Kuznetsov / Williams trio was Washington’s weakest during 5v5, but that might have more to do with score effects than with chemistry. Or maybe Alex Ovechkin is injured. Or maybe neither. I don’t know. Neither do you. Let’s fight about it.
  • Erik Karlsson rules. Norris or bust.
Joe B suit of the night

Joe B suit of the night

The Caps won. They clinched the Eastern Conference. Everything is great. Obviously. I mean, they beat the Senators! Not just any old team can beat the Senators! They’ve got Eugene Melnyk, the Mel-man. The Mel-man delivers.

I kid. Sincerity: the Caps are headed for something big. Tonight’s win gets them closer, but does it portend more than that? Was this a “statement game?” I doubt it. Holtby was lovely, and the first period was fun, but there’s miles to go before we sleep.

Metaphorically I mean. Literally I’m going to sleep right god damn now.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Senators

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