The Washington Capitals were due for crummy game, and they certainly gave us one against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night, except Washington’s winning ways were irrepressible. A late-game rally saved a bummer of a night, but the win streak did not survive.
Clayton Keller started scoring for the Coyotes with a crash-the-net rebound goal. Christian Fischer added a second with a shot to Ilya Samsonov’s glove that crossed the goal line. Michael Grabner made it 3-0 with a giveaway from TJ Oshie.
Then Evgeny Kuznetsov started doing his thing. He cracked the shutout in the second period and then turned a negative-angle shot into a goal to make it a one-goal game in the third. TJ Oshie tied it with 76 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. OT gave us nothing, so here we go:
Shootout bullets!
- Oshie did NOT put the biscuit in the basket!
- Schmaltz put the biscuit in the basket!
- Kuznetsov did NOT put the biscuit in the basket!
- Garland put the biscuit in the basket!
Caps lose 4-3 in the shootout.
- Another classic Bob anthem in the pregame.
- The Caps started this game wonderfully, with Vrana buzzing the net early, but it didn’t last. For whatever reason, the boys didn’t look particularly sharp, coughing up the puck in neutral especially. That’s how definitely Michael Grabner scored. Not a great play from Oshie there. Don’t worry; we’ll hear from him again.
- I was skeptical at first, but yeaaaaaah this is definitely a goal. Maybe don’t use easy-to-see-through mesh gloves, Ilya?
Yup. The puck was conclusively over the goal line on Christian Fischer's goal. pic.twitter.com/DgdydLb786
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) November 12, 2019
- My mischievous ward Chandler Stephenson came darn close to scoring his third goal of the season. He rang the post, extending Washington’s ignominious lead in that stat.
Not counting Stephenson's tonight. pic.twitter.com/fqaX8DZN8D
— RMNB (@rmnb) November 12, 2019
- Otherwise, Chandler’s line did not distinguish themselves. He was paired with Eller and the newly healthy RIchard Panik. They got caved in like a group of four friends spelunking in North Carolina only to discover they’re not the only one in these caves.
- At the far other end of the spectrum, Evgeny Kuznetsov is on fire right now. Even before he scored two goals, he was Washington’s best player. When he combines his undeniable scoring talent with good play in the other two zones, he’s a phenom. Late in the game, Kuznetsov even got double-shifted, filling in for Stephenson on the third line. And Kuznetsov came just inches from scoring a hat trick, but that darn TJ Oshie got his stick on the puck first.
https://twitter.com/tole_cover/status/1194054109097340928
- ^^^ I’m with this guy. I have hung out with Alex 2.5 hours a week for the last 20 years. He doesn’t know it; but me and Alex are very close. I love him, and I wish him the best.
Red and raspberry, along with a navy blue dress shirt for Veteran's Day #JoeBSuitOfTheNight #CapsYotes pic.twitter.com/TW2p9oQ2E5
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) November 12, 2019
I’d like to wish a happy Veterans Day to all the service members in our audience and extended families. Thanks for doing what you do and what you have done.
The Caps now head to Philly. See you on Wednesday night. Lemme know if you wanna talk about Ian’s mozzarella sticks tweet in the comments.
