The Washington Capitals wrapped up 2019 with a messy home game against Barry Trotz’s New York Islanders. I doubt anyone’s happy with this game. Oh, except maybe Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Casey Cizikas kicked us off with a neat deflection of a point shot. Brock Nelson’s shot through Orlov’s screen made it 2-0 Isles early, but Evgeny Kuznetsov responded with an exploitation of a defensive breakdown by New York. Tom Wilson finished off a busy first period with a danger-close tip-in off Backstrom’s pass.
Tied 2-2 entering the second, Kuznetsov got his second goal of the game, a wrister from the slot. New York answered with two goals — another from Cizikas that outsmarted Holtby, and a sharp passing sequence finished off by Tom Kuhnhackl.
The Caps buzzed late in the third period, but they couldn’t catch up.
Caps lose.
- This is the first time the Caps have lost two games in a row in regulation this season. Pretty good run.
- Earlier this week, I wrote about how Evgeny Kuznetsov worries me but Braden Holtby doesn’t so much. Ha. Hockey mocks me. Let’s start with Kuz.
- After some buzz about possibly playing on the third line, Evgeny Kuznetsov got his usual spot between Vrana and Oshie. From there, Kuznetsov got his third two-goal game of the season and his first since November 11.
- Meanwhile, Braden Holtby has allowed 13 goals in his last three starts. We’re certainly seeing the lowest point of his career so far. That said, I don’t see how those a bunch of these goals were save-able, except for the Cizikas breakaway for sure. It was a mess of turnovers for the Caps. They needed their goalie to bail them out, but they didn’t get it. I suspect we’ll see some more load-sharing with Samsonov soon.
- I just wanna share the last Unleash the Fury of the 2010s because I love Wes:
It's time to unleash some 3rd period FURY on the Isles! Watch and listen as @WesJohnsonVoice unleashes! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/KraKdf15z1
— Byron J. Hudtloff (@ByronHudtloff) December 31, 2019
- Tom Wilson missed last game to injury, but he bounced back just fine with a good greasy goal from the paint. He’s on track for around 25 goals.
- Alex Ovechkin seems a bit off. Check this out.
Alex Ovechkin returned to the bench and talked to head athletic trainer Jason Serbus after taking this hit skating around the Isles goal. @TomGulittiNHL reports Ovechkin was getting his left shoulder rubbed on the bench. https://t.co/KSfjOptdbx pic.twitter.com/8Hn9CWTw4J
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 31, 2019
- Nic Dowd missed the game as his wife Paige is in labor with the couple’s first child. Best wishes and congrats to the family. Peter is a good name for a boy, I’ve found.
out with a bang #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/2h3scE371O
— Peter Hassett (@peterhassett) December 31, 2019
And with that, the decade ends and we hit the season’s halfway point. Everything seems too massive to try to characterize or summarize for you here. I’ll just say that I like spending time with you people, and I hope we can do it some more in 2020.
Have a safe and happy new year. Crash the net.
