The Caps were inactive on a busy weekend in the NHL. While the team rested in Minnesota, two big regular-season races — the one to win the Metropolitan Division and the one to win the Rocket Richard trophy — had some important developments.
On Friday night, the Philadelphia Flyers won their fifth straight game, downing the Rangers 5-2 at home. The Flyers are surging, having won 8 fo their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Caps have won just 3 of their last 10 and the Penguins are on a six-game losing streak.
All of a sudden, the Metro is a lot tighter. Here’s how it’s evolved over the past 20 games.
The Flyers play the Rangers again today at noon. A win could put them within striking distance of the Caps.
Elsewhere in the east, David Pastrnak keeps scoring goals. Ovechkin had passed Pastrnak during his surge to 700 goals, but Pastrnak has responded appropriately. His goal in Saturday’s shutout of the Islanders gives him 47 on the season.
Here’s the goal-scoring pace over the last twenty games.
Ovechkin was won six of the last seven goal-scoring titles, but he’s now four goals behind Pastrnak and two behind Toronto’s Auston Matthews.
The Caps at play 8 PM tonight in Minnesota. It’s time to get moving.
Headline photo: Wikimedia Commons
