Another Metro showdown, but a different result tonight. The Caps and potential first round playoff opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers matched up in a game that could have extended Washington’s win streak to five games. Instead, the Caps fell in a sloppy effort that goaltender Philipp Grubauer could not salvage despite his best efforts.
Nada in the first. Shayne Gostisbehere led things off in the second before Alex Ovechkin’s 43rd of the season tied things up. Oskar Lindblom’s first NHL goal put the Flyers up one and they would add another on a deflection moments later.
Wayne Simmonds scored early in the third to extend the lead even further. Chandler Stephenson finished off a two-on-one. Simmonds added one more. John Carlson put home a strange backhand. Jakub Voracek empty netter.
Flyers beat Caps 6-3.
- A game between a team playing their third game in four days and a team playing a back to back led to that first period. Yawn.
- I was a bit skeptical of Travis Boyd getting the first line gig in place of an injured Evgeny Kuznetsov, but man his feed to set up Ovi in the second period was magical. It was Boyd’s first NHL point as well as Ovechkin’s 601st career goal which tied him with Jari Kurri for 19th all-time.
- With Brooks Orpik out of the lineup, TJ Oshie was given the ‘A’ on his sweater as one of the team’s alternate captains.
- Anybody else think Syracuse’s zone defense is quite possibly the most boring sporting strategy in the entire world?
When you had dibs on the final cheesesteak in catering, but this dude over here ate it before you got there pic.twitter.com/qRmrpdF6kt
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 18, 2018
- Way too many stupid giveaways from guys in white jerseys and way too many odd man rushes for guys in orange jerseys.
- Which three Capitals players would you want in your Fortnite squad?
- Dmitry Orlov had a really nice game. Too bad none of his teammates joined him.
Sister Jean on becoming a national sensation: “Really, if I can correct you, international.” pic.twitter.com/JQP2Rj0P8S
— Lauren Comitor (@laurencomitor) March 18, 2018
- Why is Oshie fighting? Why?
- John Carlson now leads all NHL defensemen in points and set a new career high in goals with his 14th. That’s cool, but he was hot garbage in the game otherwise.
- Pretty clear to me that the Caps dearly missed Kuznetsov on the power play.
- The zebras had their whistles in tip top shape tonight. Everyone be sure to read your rulebooks front to back when Wes McCauley is on patrol.
- Philipp Grubauer was pretty damn good despite the ultimate result. This game could have easily featured another eight spot from the Flyers without numerous ten-bell stops from the Caps German netminder. He was just left out to dry by his team, which is something he can ask Braden Holtby about.
#JoeBSuitOfTheNight #CapsFlyers pic.twitter.com/SCS4e2FX26
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 18, 2018
Tyler Seguin and the rest of the boys from Dallas travel to DC for a cross conference matchup on Tuesday night. The Caps are 3-10-1-1 all time at home vs. Dallas, including 0-5-1 in last six.
Full Coverage of Caps at Flyers
Headline photo: Patrick Smith
