The Washington Capitals survived their back-to-back with travel by downing both the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres in a shootout after things could not be settled after 65 minutes. Saturday night, it was the Sabres turn to take the loss as the Caps continue streaking, taking the game 4-3.
The Caps out-shot the Sabres 38 to 28 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 77 to 53.
- The Caps at five-on-five out-attempted the Sabres 77 to 53, out scoring chanced them 42 to 35, and out high danger chanced them 13 to 10. The pace of this game was insane and it’s real nice to know that the defending champs can still hang with, and in this instance be better than some of these young, insanely quick teams. Buffalo put up a really good fight and they’re going to be a scary foe in a couple years.
- Alex Ovechkin scored again. His sixth straight game with a goal and 14th straight game with a point. That point streak is his new career high and he is only one goal away in the next game against the Pens from tying his career high goal scoring streak of seven games, set in his rookie season. At age 33, Alex Ovechkin is breaking the personal records he set as a 20 to 21-year-old.
Longest Point Streaks By Player Age 33+
20 GP- Oates (34; 1996-97)
16 GP- Howe (34; 1962-63)
15 GP- Robitaille (34; 1999-00)
15 GP- Gretzky (35; 1996-97)
15 GP- Chelios (33; 1995-96)
14 GP- Dionne (33; 1984-85)
14 GP- Howe (35; 1963-64)
14 GP- @ovi8 (33; 2018-19)#NHLStats pic.twitter.com/0NlXNx1mga— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 16, 2018
- The Caps quick reply to Jack Eichel‘s opening goal was scored by Brett Connolly, the seventh of his season. Conno’s sixth point in his last six games was primarily assisted by Devante Smith-Pelly‘s 100th career NHL point.
Brett Connolly has scored Washington's first goal of the game four times this season, tied with Nicklas Backstrom for the second most on the team (Jakub Vrana: 6 times).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 16, 2018
- Jakub Vrana‘s 10th goal of the season was assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov and gives Kuzy an assist in each of his last eight games. That is one game shy of the franchise record set by Bengt Gustafsson (1985-86) and Dave Christian (1986-87). Jake had all of 13 goals and 27 points in 73 games last season and he’s now on pace to score 25 goals and record 48 points this season. Vrana is the fourth Caps player to score double digit goals this season after Ovechkin, Nicklas Backtrom, and TJ Oshie. I would also like to note that I chose today’s headline photo because it looks like Thanos got Jake.
- The Capitals are now 7-2-1 this year when Pheonix Copley is in the net for the decision. His stats are not exactly jump off the page good, but I think the rookie has definitely been serviceable enough behind Braden Holtby to earn some praise.
- The Caps have now won five games in a row and 12 of their last 14. They also have recorded at least three goals in a game for 14 straight games now. This stretch since Thanksgiving has easily been the best they’ve played all season.
Numbers thanks to Hockey-reference.com, NaturalStatTrick.com, and Corsica.hockey.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Sabres
Headline photo: Patrick Smith
