The first ten minutes of Game One were a physical slog without much offense for the Washington Capitals, but then we hit the ten-minute mark, and Nicklas Backstrom kicked off the postseason with back-to-back goals.
Let’s dance.
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The Caps went without a shot on goal and just two attempts until 9:34, when Dmitry Orlov finally forced Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek to make a save. Just thirty seconds later, Backstrom struck, carrying the puck through neutral, into the offensive zone and the top of the slot. A simple wristshot evaded Mrazek, who sported a save percentage of 50 at that point in the game.
Mrazek didn’t even flinch until the puck was behind him.
YESSSSH I DEED IT YOU GUYS.
John Carlson and two-time Stanley Cup champion Brooks Orpik recorded assists on the goal.
The Capitals went on the power-play a few minutes later as Justin Faulk high-sticked Alex Ovechkin, which, in hindsight, was a goof-up.
The Caps got good zone time on the man advantage, but didn’t threaten the net until Backstrom got a sure-thing lay-up low in the slot off Evgeny Kuznetov’s assist.
Here’s another look.
Backstrom now has 33 playoff goals in his career. This was his 100th career playoff point.
“Every time you go into the playoffs,” Backstrom told Al Koken, “you know how big a factor special teams is going to be. That was a great pass from [Kuznetsov] on the back door. That’s something we’ve been practicing. That was nice.”
"We have another level," says Nicklas Backstrom at the first intermission.
The Capitals are winning 3-0. pic.twitter.com/vFXcObGWBB— Ian Oland (@ianoland) April 12, 2019
Capital One Arena is totally bonkers right now. Let’s dance.
Here is the first Caps goal of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs!! @backstrom19 as heard by @WesJohnsonVoice #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/JD4N6D38bJ
— Byron J. Hudtloff (@ByronHudtloff) April 12, 2019
