The Washington Capitals really needed a win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night if they wanted to keep their dim playoff aspirations alive. They got just that and then some with a blowout 6-2 victory over their division rivals.
And, two goals from that one guy which is…more important.
- The Capitals were leaving Charlie Lindgren out to dry for large swaths of the first 40 minutes in this game but Lindgren stood tall per usual this season and got some timely scoring in front of him. The third period was just all-around great as the Capitals took full control of the five-on-five play, out-attempting the Devils 21-16, out-scoring chancing them 13-5, and out-high danger chancing them 5-1. And, of course, most importantly the whole actual scoreboard part which they won on the back of several net-front markers. “Crash the net” is a thing for a reason.
- Alex Ovechkin potted two more goals to give himself eight in his last eight games. Earlier in the game he also grabbed an assist on a Dylan Strome goal which extended his point streak to nine games. Ovi’s last point streak of at least nine games before this one came at the start of the 2019-20 campaign. Since January 24, only Auston Matthews (11) has more goals than The Great Eight (8) does.
- Let’s go, Connor McMichael. That sort of finish he showed off in this game was a ton of what made him such a big prospect coming out of the OHL. Everyone pray to the hockey gods that this was his true breakout moment offensively. With the two goals, McMichael set a new single-season career high in goals (10) and points (20).
Alex Ovechkin scores his second goal of the game to extend Washington's lead to 6-2. It marks Ovechkin's 412th career goal at home, passing Jaromir Jagr (411) for the third-most in NHL history. The only players in NHL history with more goals at home are Wayne Gretzky (492) and…
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 21, 2024
- Another huge night from Charlie Lindgren who I advocated for the Capitals to trade hours before this game. Lindgren’s fantastic season is a major reason why I wrote that post because his value is likely never going to be higher although I’m definitely still enjoying the ride of watching him play for the Capitals. He made 37 stops in his 11th win of the season. According to MoneyPuck, he added another .89 goals saved above expected to his season ledger which will take him over nine total.
- Dylan Strome is still on pace for his first career 30-goal season in the NHL and should also hit the 60-point mark again. The Capitals got him for free. I wish all the players they got for free produced like this.
- Mike Sgarbossa deserves some love because he’s come up and filled the exact role the Capitals needed. His presence has stabilized the team down the middle and if he’s chipping in offense that’s just a bonus. His tally in the game was his first NHL goal since December 17, 2021.
Numbers thanks to Hockey-reference.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.
