For the first fifteen minutes of Tuesday’s late-night game in San Jose, the Capitals seemed a bit rusty. But once the fourth line starting crashing the net, the flood gates opened. This was a clinic.
Melker Karlsson outraced Radko Gudas to put the Sharks up early in the first, but the Caps came back harder. Garnet Hathaway got one up close, then Jakub Vrana exploited some lazy defense, then John Carlson released a danger-close slapshot to make 3-1 after twenty minutes.
Hathaway scored his second goal of the game in the second period, taking a pass from Nic Dowd and paying the price for it. Jakub Vrana got jealous, so he scored his second goal of the game before intermission, making it 5-1 after two periods.
The Sharks pulled Martin Jones for the third period. The Sharks got one more past Holtby, but that was that.
Caps win!
It’s a late-night Bailamos! Listen at a reasonable volume or else you’ll wake up Aileen.
- Sharks goalie Martin Jones had a brutal start to the season, but it looked like he had turned a corner sometime in November. And then this game happens. Yeesh.
- This was Washington’s first game since the Chandler Stephenson trade. Stephenson had himself a big first night with Vegas, but it looks like the fourth line is doing just fine without him too. It felt like Leipsic – Dowd – Hathaway won every shift they were out for.
- Garnet Hathaway had his second career two-goal game — both hardworking net-front affairs, both assisted by his podcast co-host, Nic Dowd. I preferred the second goal, if only for this celebration:
this is my new favorite celly pic.twitter.com/8Vws5PjQ79
— HockeyKot (@hockeykot) December 4, 2019
- John Carlson got an assist on the first goal and then a goal of his own a few minutes later, leading to this eye-popping stat.
Most points by a defenceman prior to the 30-game mark since 1967-68
Bobby Orr (1974-75) 55
Bobby Orr (1972-73) 52
Bobby Orr (1971-72) 45
Bobby Orr (1970-71) 45
Bobby Orr (1969-70) 41
Al MacInnis (1990-91) 41#ALLCAPS John Carlson (2019-20) 40— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) December 4, 2019
John Carlson of the @Capitals is the first defenseman to reach the 40-point mark in 29 or fewer games since Calgary’s Al MacInnis in 1990-91 (11-30—41 in 29 GP). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/M0wLbyjrpi
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 4, 2019
- The first four goals of the game all involved players named Carlson/Karlsson. Finally, in the third period, the triforce was assembled.
Well, it happened#ALLCAPS John Carlson, #SJSharks Erik Karlsson and Melker Karlsson were all just on the ice at the same time
"Yup. We've got the trifecta" – @WaltonCaps living the dream @CapitalsRadio
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) December 4, 2019
- Jakub Vrana now has 14 goals on the season. None of those goals have come from the power play, where Vrana doesn’t get much time anyway. I’m getting bored of saying “breakout season” but, y’all, breakout season.
Gudas skates to the locker room pic.twitter.com/Bc9kUDqQPB
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 4, 2019
- Late in the game, Evander Kane (who has scored 17 goals in 33 games against Washington) put a high hit on Radko Gudas, causing Gudas to hit the boards headfirst. Kane got ejected; Gudas went to the quiet room. The Caps played the remainder of the game on a power play. Kane’s not a good guy, by the way.
Nice pattern clashing #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/bQuimy3Xl5
— Peter Hassett (@peterhassett) December 4, 2019
Woo. That was a lot of fun. The history of the Caps in San Jose has not been a happy one, but tonight/this morning did not follow that pattern. That was a genuine delight, even if was painfully late. I’d like to thank everyone who shared pics of your pets. I know it’s a goofy gag, but it sincerely warms my otherwise icy cold, somewhat bereaved heart. (You should definitely browse the good good photos.)
Now go get some sleep. We’re gonna do this all again in LA tomorrow.
