The 2016-17 Arizona Coyotes are one of the worst teams in the NHL in the post lockout era and the 2016-17 Washington Capitals are one of the best. The two teams showed us that discrepancy very clearly, maybe not on the scoreboard for much of the game, but definitely everywhere else.
Alex Ovechkin got the home team on the board first, firing home a wrist shot from the left slot on the power play.
Second period? 5,000 Capitals shot attempts and an Alex Goligoski missed empty net. Through 40 minutes at 1-0.
Peter Holland tied the game at 1 after Anthony Duclair was stopped on a breakaway by Braden Holtby. Daniel Winnik and Justin Williams then scored in quick succession to give the Caps back their lead. Winnik added another with an empty net strike.
Caps beat Coyotes 4-1!
- Alex Ovechkin‘s first period goal was his 30th marker of the season. That gives him 12 straight seasons of 30 or more goals to start his career, making him only the third NHL player in history to do so. The other two players you might just recognize, Wayne Gretzky and Mike Gartner.
- Marcus Johansson‘s assist on Ovechkin’s goal gave him 48 points on the year, his new career high. Mojo is likely to go above the 50 point mark this season so it’s safe to say that he’s definitely earned that raise he received last summer.
- The Capitals built a full hotel resort and spa in the Coyotes zone. An indoor waterpark, full arcade, and about 9 million missed shots also included.
- Coyotes goalie Mike Smith had quite the night. The Caps helped him out by missing his net a ton of times and he got a few lucky bounces, but the Canadian netminder deserves praise for the onslaught he endured.
@russianmachine Here's something you don't see every day – pic.twitter.com/2TNcb6rbCp
— Phil Owen (@Psowen31) March 26, 2017
I chased this guy for two blocks just to get this picture pic.twitter.com/PXKrJ3LQ55
— 💃🏻 (@holtbyfanclub) February 4, 2017
- Back to Ovechkin’s goal. You know that resort I talked about that the Capitals built in the Coyotes zone? Yea, it was built on Ovechkin island. Opposition penalty kills beware.
- Dmitry Orlov‘s play on Daniel Winnik‘s goal was phenomenal. Instead of making the easy play, Orlov carried the puck out of the defensive zone and sprung Winnik for the semi-break that gave the Caps their lead back. Good stuff Dima.
- Winnik had a 2 goal night. Please get this man a shirt in the team store.
Joe B suit of the night
On the road again for five straight. See y’all Tuesday.
Featured image: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
