John Carlson’s offensive production has continued from the regular season (68 points in 82 games) into to the playoffs.
Carlson has tallied three points in each of the Capitals’ first two playoff games. His six points leads the Capitals. The Caps defenseman also sits tied with Brad Marchand for third overall in NHL points.
Carlson joined some elite company among defensemen after tallying three or more assists in two consecutive games. Carlson is only the third defenseman in NHL history to achieve the feat, joining Hockey Hall of Famer Al MacInnis (Games 5-6 of 1984 DF) and Gary Suter (Games 1-2 of 1988 DSF).
Carlson is an unrestricted free agent after this season.
John Carlson of the @Capitals became the third defenseman in NHL history to record 3+ assists in consecutive playoff games, joining Al MacInnis (Games 5-6 of 1984 DF) and Gary Suter (Games 1-2 of 1988 DSF). #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/pIisuKqT2X
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 16, 2018
Game One
First assist
Did @tjoshie77 get a piece of it? #CapsJackets #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/OUzZpr1Q2j
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 13, 2018
For Carlson’s first assist of Game One, he passed the puck along to Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom redistributed the puck to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who scored his first goal of two for the night.
Second assist
EN FUEGO! @kuzya92 #CapsJackets #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/0a5zqozns3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 13, 2018
An identical order of play occured on Carlson’s second assist. The puck went from Carlson, to Backstrom, to Kuznetsov, who buried the puck and put the Capitals up 2-0.
Third assist
WHEEEEEELS! @JVranaa #StanleyCup #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/BGQf3HTzpn
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 13, 2018
On Carlson’s final assist of Game One, he passed the puck to Jakub Vrana. Vrana sped away down the ice, before passing the puck to Devante Smith-Pelly. Smith-Pelly scored on a blistering wrister off Vrana’s pass.
Game Two
First assist
🔝🧀 @ovi8 #StanleyCup #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/1uUfjHx1pq
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 16, 2018
Carlson’s first assist of Game Two came after he hustled to win the puck following a scramble off the faceoff. He passed the puck to a wide open Alex Ovechkin, who did what Ovi does best.
Second assist
✌️ FOR ✌️ #STANLEYCUP #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/D9S4FzalLS
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 16, 2018
On his second assist, Carlson kept the puck in the zone before passing it off to Nicklas Backstrom. From there, Backstrom set Ovechkin up for his second tally of the night.
Third assist
When we needed it most. #CapsJackets #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/7AM1dRmJYV
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 16, 2018
Carlson’s final assist was on a TJ Oshie goal, which would ultimately send the game to overtime. Oshie and Carlson did a little back and forth, before TJ took a shot and scored.
Headline photo: @PR_NHL
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