Saturday night has been an unmitigated disaster for the Washington Capitals, but Jakub Vrana just scored his 20th goal. So there’s that.
It’s the first goal Vrana has scored on the powerplay all season.
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Let’s not focus too much on what happened before this. Suffice it to say: goals were scored while the Devils were shorthanded, not on the right end of the ice, and the Capitals’ powerplay was booed by the home crowd.
We're big fans of Blake. Big fans.#WeAreTheOnes | #NJDvsWSH pic.twitter.com/LOX58zPvIk
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 12, 2020
This is the first time in a while I've heard the Caps get booed on home ice. Not good.
— Washington Capitals Now (@CapitalsNow) January 12, 2020
But in the back half of a double-minor penalty for high-sticking Richard Panik, the Caps finally put pressure on Devils goalie Louis Domingue. With Carlson and Backstrom both buzzing the net, Vrana was in position to backhand home the rebound.
Vrana takes advantage of chaos in front of the net to put the boys in red on board!! pic.twitter.com/pKmtfnFDT8
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 12, 2020
Vrana is four goals behind his single-season career best — with half the season to go.
Vrana has scored his 20th goal of the season, four shy of his single season high set last season. Last year, Vrana reached the 20 goal mark in his 70th game of the season (this season his 46th).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 12, 2020
Every goal Vrana has scored before Saturday has come during even strength, but Todd Reirden shifted him to the team’s first powerplay unit this week.
Maybe we’ll see a lot more of these soon (and less booing). Fingers crossed.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Devils
Screenshot via NBC Sports Washington
