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Buzzer beater: Caps beat Hurricanes 4-3

By Chris Cerullo

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January 12, 2018 11:11 pm

The Washington Capitals came into Friday night’s action looking to redeem a loss that they suffered the night before to the Carolina Hurricanes. They would try to do that against that same Hurricanes team, but this time in hostile Raleigh.

Jordan Staal slammed home an early power play chance to give the Canes an early home lead, but Lars Eller’s skate would have none of that and we were through 20 minutes locked up at one apiece.

Alex Ovechkin blasted his 28th tally past Cam Ward before Sebastian Aho responded with one of his own. Jeff Skinner gave the Canes the lead once more with a snipe past Philipp Grubauer. Brett Connolly converted a giveaway late in the third. Jay Beagle beat the buzzer.

Caps beat Hurricanes 4-3!

  • The Capitals have a serial butt-whacker on their roster.
  • Lars Eller unknowingly scored an absolutely insane scramble goal in the first period. At first glance it could have been like nine different dudes who scored, but the puck ended up clicking off of Larry’s skate and trickling past about 14 prone Carolina defenders. If the New York Mets were a hockey goal, they would be that goal.
  • With that goal, Lars now has four goals in his last four games and five goals in his last seven games. No Capitals player has had a longer goal scoring streak this season. Give this man a new contract.

  • Then take Devante Smith-Pelly off the first line and put Tom Wilson back on it. Frustration personified in the two point blank chances that he somehow missed after two gorgeous feeds from #8. Give the people what they want and what they want is #TopLineTom.

  • That guy did the thing again. Alex Ovechkin, in his power play office, shot a puck about eleven thousand miles per hour past an actual expectant Cam Ward. The Canes goalie could have been waiting for that shot since Monday and he still would have had no chance.
  • John Carlson recorded his 300th career NHL point on the Ovechkin goal. According to Capitals PR, he is only the 24th player and 7th defensemen in franchise history to reach that milestone. Reminder that Kris Letang doesn’t deserve to be in the All Star Game.
  • I get the logic behind why the first line plays with Brooks Orpik a lot, but can they like not?
  • The third line doesn’t play enough. If the very expensive TJ Oshie is on your third line, you probably need to give it a boost in five-on-five minutes.
  • Brett Connolly now has ten goals on the year. He had 15 last year. Depth scoring is not easy to find in the NHL. Now just don’t scratch him in the playoffs again.
  • Ovi is closing in on 500 assists and 600 goals. We could have some really special moments ahead of us this season.

  • Philipp Grubauer is really good and deserves to be a starting goaltender somewhere. Due to his start, his buddy Braden Holtby was just chillin’ thinking about life.
  • What are your bye week plans? I think I might catch up on the Bachelor.

Joe B suit of the night

The Caps now have their scheduled bye “week” and will be back on Thursday in New Jersey. There they will start a stretch of three games in four nights.

Full Coverage of Caps at Hurricanes

Headline photo: Gregg Forwerck

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