After the last three days, we all need a fifth of vodka sports. You’re in luck. The Washington Capitals headed to the Second City to start a three game road trip with a match against the hottest team in hockey.
After Tuesday’s disaster (of a hockey game), the Capitals controlled much of the first period. They got on the board first when Jay Beagle scored a shorthanded goal off an excellent pickoff by Matt Niskanen and a two-on-one pass from TJ Oshie. The Hawks got on the board 22 seconds later when Brian Campbell responded on the power play. Not to fear, Beagle, the man who lost his dream job of third line center this year, made some positively second line action with a wrap around tally with just over five minutes to go in the opening frame.
Then nothing happened except for some Braden Holtby saves for over 40 minutes until Marian Hossa deflected a puck past with 23 seconds left.
But, but, but! Marcus Johansson responded with his seventh of the season on the Ovechkin-level one-timer. #MoJo4Hart. Caps beat Blackhawks 3-2 (OT).
- Zach Sanford played! Apparently Caps head coach Barry Trotz held onto this information like the nuclear codes that are all the rage these days (you should really get some) by refusing to tell reporters who was playing after the morning skate, putting Brett Connolly on the fourth line during warmups, and then dressing Sanford. Both players have struggled this year and Connolly will likely get in against Carolina on Saturday as Sanford was a possession disaster in his whole seven minutes of play.
- The Chorn Horn was sounded and it was as fresh as the latest Beyonce track.
- The Capitals power play still has the same conversion rate of Ian Oland and correct use of the English language. They had no opportunities against the Hawks, leaving them with one goal in their fifteen attempts and a 13.2 percentage.
- Braden Holtby won the Capitals the game. As usual, nothing to see here.
- The Capitals were sorta blasé and I don’t have any more bullets.
The Capitals have wins in five of their last six games after beating a team that had won seven straight. The horrors of losing to a team that almost won the Stanley Cup are relieved.
