The Washington Capitals are still out west in a ridiculous time zone that should not exist. Alex Ovechkin is still seeking history and the Arizona Coyotes were looking to stop the Caps’ Pacific Division dominance.
Christian Dvorak opened scoring for the Coyotes as the Caps allow the first goal of the game in five straight. Carl Hagelin stashed home the tying marker in the second. Phil Kessel tipped one home in the high slot on a power play to restore the Yotes lead. Lawson Crouse empty netter.
Coyotes beat Caps 3-1.
- The Caps did nothing of note offensively at five-on-five in the first which has become an unfortunate trend. It annoys me to no end that the goaltending from Braden Holtby has seemingly caught up as the actual play in front of him has dropped off. Holts was very, very good again Saturday night.
- This is like the only time ever that I wish everyone would shut up about Alex Ovechkin. Please just let the man play. Looking at you local sporting network. It’s obviously a gigantic, historic thing he is chasing, but do we need to hear it every four seconds?
- Anyone else legitimately forget that Taylor Hall was on the Coyotes?
https://twitter.com/joyfulone23/status/1228686133460111360
- The Caps were better, but not much better in the second. Arizona plays boring, but when it works, it works. Another individual defensive lapse cost the Caps the first goal of the game, which they have now given up in five straight contests.
- It’s not an NBA dunk contest if someone doesn’t get #robbed.
- Richard Panik had a strong night against his former team. Felt like he was the only individually dangerous Capitals forward not named Alex Ovechkin. He created the Caps first goal of the night with a great net drive.
- John Carlson endlessly pisses me off with his ability to be such an elite assist man in this league combined with his inability to regularly put the puck anywhere close to Ovechkin’s stick on the power play. I think he missed him on maybe a six-foot pass eight times in this game.
First shutout of the season calls for shotgunning in the @BudLight Seltzer Lounge! pic.twitter.com/dQF3NVNGuD
— D.C. Defenders (@XFLDefenders) February 15, 2020
- Caps best period was the third, but their man advantage went scoreless on the night and the Coyotes’ didn’t. That was the difference…that and doing literally nothing for the initial forty minutes.
- Antti Raanta also deserves mention. I have literally no clue how the Caps didn’t cash in on those few extra man opportunities in the dying moments of the game.
- Gold Rush chicken sandwich from Roy Rogers is easy top five fast food item.
A classy blue number #JoeBSuitOfTheNight #CapsYotes pic.twitter.com/YYnmjlkuXT
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) February 16, 2020
Next up for the Caps is a date with the Golden Knights in an arena that all Caps fans are very fond of. Lets hope Ryan Reaves is playing because he isn’t good at hockey.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Coyotes
Headline photo: NBC Sports Washington
