The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, both destined to miss the playoffs, collided on Thursday night with one the unambiguous superior team. You know which.
We began the scoring with Tom Wilson, shorthanded and getting his own rebound. Then, in the second period, the Caps erupted for four goals. Alex Ovechkin kicked it off with number 840, with a good rebound on the power play. Nick Jensen was next, cleaning up a rush attack. Hendrix Lapierre’s spin-o-rama made it 4-0, and Ivan Miroshnichenko’s first NHL goal brought us into Bailamos territory.
Early in the third, Alexander Alexeyev sent a perfect pass to Sonny Milano for his ninth of the season. Meanwhile, at the other end of the ice, Charlie Lindgren earned a shutout.
Caps win!
- Wow. That was a very good performance from the Capitals, especially in the high-danger areas of the attacking zone. It kinda seemed like Pittsburgh’s heart wasn’t in it. Maybe the trade deadline distracts some teams more than others. Maybe the Caps are just more used to it after last year.
- Washington’s last five games: a 6-3 win over Ottawa, an 8-3 loss to Detroit, a 5-2 win over Philadelphia, a 5-2 loss to Arizona, and now this. They can’t do anything normal; it’s all blowouts one way or the other. It’s all Bailamos or reverse Bailamos.
- A youngster, Ivan Miroshnichenko, scored his first NHL goal, and I spelled his name right on the first try. Miro was good all night, getting deep into the zone despite very tough minutes against Sidney Crosby. I think we’ll be seeing a lot of this guy for the stretch run.
- Another youngster, Hendrix Lapierre, remains hot with four goals in his last five games. On his scoring shift, he made a strong play along the blue line to keep the attack alive.
- Yet another youngster, Alexander Alexeyev, got his first assist of the season when he smoothly set up Sonny Milano for the game’s sixth goal. I know AA hasn’t blown everyone’s mind so far, but that highlight shows he’s got the requisite hands.
- 26-year-old Beck Malenstyn got in a fight, his first since December 2021. I believe he was taking offense at a hit on Mike Sgarbossa, so good on him. I’ll call it a draw.
- Someone made Tom Wilson bleed from the face. I’m not going to tell you who did it, because I don’t want to subject them to your cyberbullying. Wilson needed stitches and when he returned he. looked. hideous. Children will weep and people who are usually attracted to men will now wince to look upon his scarred visage.
the marvels of modern medicine pic.twitter.com/gn9C9tGSpx
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 8, 2024
- Wilson’s shorthanded goal was the fifth the Penguins have allowed in their last ten games. Their PP previously allowed goals by Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Columbus. Only Montreal has given up more shorties this season (11 to Pittsburgh’s ten).
- Dylan Strome had three assists, putting up at 50 points on the season, a team high.
- With his 840th career goal, Alex Ovechkin became the guy who has scored in the Penguins’ barn more than anyone else: 25 times, one more than Darryl Sittler, who I know nothing about, but I saw a photo and he had great hair.
Alex Ovechkin scores 840th career goal, a power-play strike against Penguins
- Starting Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry got the hook after his fourth goal. Alex Nedeljkovic came on relief and promptly let some in as well. I don’t think those goalies were bad per se tonight; it’s more like I think Washington was excellent in finishing their chances. But also I wanted to say those two goalies’ names because I wonder if one might get traded tomorrow.
- I also wonder if Washington’s starting goalie, Charlie Lindgren, who made 39 saves on the way to his shutout, might have just played his last game with the team. If he doesn’t get traded, Brian MacLellan is going to be like “oh no, we would never dream of it,” but you and I will know better. In any case, he was splendid tonight.
- So still no word on what the Pens got back for Jake Guentzel?
A teal tie for tonight's tilt 'tween two tepid teams #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/6wJnyphrUW
— RMNB (@rmnb) March 7, 2024
That was a great game with surprisingly strong performances from several players who could be the future of the franchise. Well, I guess they’re probably the future of the franchise no matter what, but they played well, so now we get to feel good about the future of the franchise.
And really, the Caps since the all-star break have been pretty okay, if spastic. I’d say they’ve been playing like a playoff bubble team, which maybe stings a bit knowing that possibility has passed, but it’s still a good omen. Better days are ahead.
