The Washington Capitals kicked off their mentors trip – and a very tough stretch of the season – with a David and Goliath situation against the Florida Panthers. Oh, except Goliath won.
The game began as all games should begin: with a goal from Alex Ovechkin. Matthew Tkachuk tipped one off his foot to make it 1-1 early in the second period. Anthony Mantha got a typical Anthony Mantha rush goal to return the lead to the Caps, but Sam Reinhart can’t stop scoring, so we were again tied 2-2 after two periods.
With five minutes left, Ryan Lomberg finished a feeding frenzy in the Caps zone to give the Panthers the decisive lead. Eetu Luostarinen’s empty-netter sealed the deal.
Caps lose.
- Alexander Mikhailovich Ovechkin scored the 833rd goal of his career, an Ovi Shot from the Ovi Spot during the power play, as if the year is 2022 or something. I am pretty sure that was his first faceoff-dot one-timer of the season, and I am certain it was the 16th time he scored on poor Sergei Bobrovksy.
- Ovechkin now has goals in three straight games. If he scored in every remaining game of the season, he’d get above 40.
- Just throwing out some chum for the comments: Ovechkin’s setup pass came from Rasmus Sandin, not John Carlson.
- The Capitals had significant penalty problems, committing six minors through two periods. Once I took off my homer glasses, I had a quibble with none of the calls, though Tom Wilson should not have been the only one going to box on this exchange.
- 31-year-old AHL lifer Mike Sgarbossa rarely gets a call-up, but I always like it when he does. Playing pivot to Protas and Mantha, Sgarbossa looked like he belonged. He was the reason Anthony Mantha got his 16th goal of the season, finishing off a rush attack started by Sgarbossa.
- Speaking of Mantha: the trade value is so high right now. It’s real.
16 goals pic.twitter.com/b2inUlWWDq
— RMNB (@rmnb) February 9, 2024
- So how many feel-good commercials for the Potomac Yard project do you think we’re going to see during games for the next few years? I feel like things are going to get a lot more contentious soon.
- In the first, Max Pacioretty did a pretty lazy zone clear that led to a would-be goal by Evan Rodrigues. The Caps’ elite video team got that challenged and neutralized, but I find myself most frustrated by Washington’s struggles to exit the defensive zone cleanly. It’s like they’re just about to do the fun part of hockey (attack), then it’s instantly fizzled and they’re back on defense. If I could fix any one part of this team’s game, it’d be the zone exits.
- Beck Malenstyn drew his first career penalty shot. He didn’t score, but he worked his tail off to earn it.
Splendid suit in Sunrise! #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/UmUnM0fws7
— RMNB (@rmnb) February 9, 2024
Really good effort in the loss from Darcy Kuemper, who faced more than five expected goals. The Caps, meanwhile, barely peeked (peaked? it’s kinda both, don’t debate me) over two xG, basically matching their actual goal total. To me, that underlines how the team just needs more offense, all the time, badly, like a car needs gas.
So that’s one game and one loss in the Stretch from Hell, bringing the Caps’ losing streak up to six games. Surely they’ll turn things around on Saturday, as they play against the Bruins, who are on a 116-point pace. At least Ovi will score. Book it.
