The Washington Capitals finally broke through on their road trip with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night. The Capitals pounced on a few terrible Kraken errors to pick up two huge standings points in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The schedule ahead is troublesome but they are just one point out right now.
- The Capitals needed a big response in this game and got just that. On zero rest they outplayed Seattle at five-on-five through forty minutes and hung on in the third to pick up the win. The second period was where they pushed the hardest, not allowing a single Kraken high-danger chance and recording six of their own.
- Connor McMichael scored the game-winner, his 14th tally of the season. McMichael is now just two goals away from tying his best single-season total as a professional, set with the Hershey Bears in the AHL last year. Only Dylan Strome (4) has more game-winning markers for the Capitals this season than McMichael (3).
- Charlie Lindgren was once again excellent in net. Per Capitals PR, Lindgren has stopped 119 of 124 shots faced (.960 save percentage) and posted a 1.25 goals-against average in his last four starts. MoneyPuck had him stopping a full goal more than expected which was the difference in the final scoreline.
The Capitals have scored a power-play goal in nine of their last 10 games and in 12 of their last 14 games. Since Feb. 8, the Capitals have converted on 17 of 53 power-play opportunities (32.1%).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 15, 2024
- The Capitals were at their best five-on-five with the Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, and Ivan Miroshnichenko line on the ice. In those minutes they held positive differentials in shot attempts (+8), scoring chances (+4), and high-danger chances (+4). Another noticeable game from Miro as he recorded seven shot attempts, four individual scoring chances, and three individual high-danger chances.
- I gave Martin Fehervary a rough review from his comeback in Edmonton but he was a ton better in this win. I counted several one-on-one defensive plays that were top class and the Capitals only gave up one five-on-five high-danger chance with him on the ice. Great stuff from Marty.
- The team the Capitals are trailing by one point for the second wild card spot is the New York Islanders. Both teams have played 65 games. This one could come down to the final week.
Numbers thanks to Hockey-reference.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.
