It is a three-day weekend. There is some cold weather, so we recommend binging a good Netflix series or a solid movie. Order a pizza, get some wine, and figure out what the heck was going on in this game.
Now, when the first period starts with the opposing team scoring twice in the first eight minutes, you don’t have great feelings about the rest of the game. There was a brief moment of hope for the Capitals once we saw a goal from *checks notes just in case* Brooks Orpik! That quick, cute moment of hope was swiftly shattered when Dmitry Orlov had an own goal to bring the Blackhawks up 3-1.
The second period is a new period! A clean slate! Fresh start! Just kidding, Alex DiBrincat brought the Hawks up 4-1 and the Capitals bring in Pheonix Copley for Braden Holtby. Clearly, Dmitry Orlov was feeling pretty down about that own goal, so he made up for it in the final few minutes of the first. Comeback will have to start in the third period.
A John Carlson goal started the third period off, bringing the game to only a one goal difference. Patrick Kane quickly ruined this joy on a power play goal. Kane also had an assist on the next Blackhawks goal. But, did you want a closer game? You got it. John Carlson scored one more time with a follow up from Matt Niskanen. Back to a one goal game. That was quickly lost after a final Jonathan Toews goal and an empty net goal from Dylan Strome.
CAPS ARE THE LOSING TEAM, 8-5. Everything is gonna be fine.
- Something miiiighty cool happened before puck drop. Coach Reirden decided it would be a good idea to start Devante Smith-Pelly after the racial taunts he faced last year. We love DSP forever and ever.
- Brooks Orpik racked up his 18th goal of his career. Reminder:
Brooks Orpik has more 5v5 goals than Evgeny Kuznetsov.
— Good Tweet Pete 🌮 (@peterhassett) January 20, 2019
- John Carlson‘s two goals brought him to 46 points (8g, 37a) in 47 games. If he continues on this pace, he will have around 76 points at the end of the season. His career high in points was set last season at 68.
- Another fun John Carlson stat, this was his third career two goal game and his first since Dec. 23, 2016 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.
- Three times, this afternoon, the Caps scored an important goal only to have it undone by a Hawks goal within one minute. After the Orpik goal in the first, after the Carlson goal in the third, and the Niskanen goal in the third.
- I think the hardest fictional death for me was Zeke in “Parenthood” even thought you see it coming? That’s a spoiler alert, but whatever.
What fictional death affected you the most?
— Eric Alper (@ThatEricAlper) January 18, 2019
- For those of you looking for some Andre Burakovsky news, he registered two assists. He had one assist in his previous 13 games. Boost that value, bb.
- All five Capitals goals were scored by defensemen. Orpik, Orlov, Carlson x2, and Nisky. I guess sometimes you want to try something new???
Caps scored five times, all at even strength, all scored by defenders. Also every Washington player was scored on, at least once.
All game charts: https://t.co/C1uwnb5381 pic.twitter.com/pXpJkny5w7
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) January 20, 2019
- If you were curious about whether or not Patrick Kane was still getting away with some nonsense, he still is! Check out when he was spearing Ovechkin in a…um…unfortunate area.
- We’re going streaking!!!
Caps lose, 8-5. Washington is on a five-game losing streak for the first time since start of 14-15 season.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 20, 2019
We didn’t get a Joe B suit today, so to get your fill of somethin’ looking dapper…here you go:
@russianmachine pic.twitter.com/NHPBBKW5Os
— Adam (@cajuncooks) January 20, 2019
@russianmachine in Chicago and at 6-3 i’m pulling out the rally shirt pic.twitter.com/SKQBZvj54H
— Redskins Breakdown (@SkinsBreakdown) January 20, 2019
Chomp chomp, the Caps are hosting the Sharks on Tuesday evening. See you then. All-Star break, please come soon.
Headline photo: Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images
