The Washington Capitals downed the vaunted Vancouver Canucks for an important road win that could have playoff implications.
Brock Boeser scored just 71 seconds into the game after Quinn Hughes beat the man of the night. But the Canucks shut up after that, and the Caps struck twice in the second period. First it came from Tom Wilson, asterisked by Ivan Miroshnichenko’s first NHL assist. Alex Ovechkin scored his 19th of the season after some sharp passing, giving the Caps a 2-1 lead after two periods.
The Canucks were feisty in the third, but the Caps held them off for the W.
Caps win!
- I don’t want to make it a thing where I report on what other team’s fans were yelling about on the internet, but there was some Discourse about an icing call in the second period that should not have been called. They’re probably right, but for callous reasons I will pretend they were just compensating for their team’s poor play.
- Because after a mostly even first period, the Caps were in the driver’s seat in the middle frame, outshooting the Canucks and controlling 67 percent of the expected goals according to Natural Stat Trick. That ended after the intermission; the Nucks came alive for the third.
- The third line (Pacioretty, Lapierre, and Milano) looked really good in particular. I’m starting to understand the enthusiasm for Hendrix Lapierre. He was good tonight, and really he’s been good all week. Check out this bail-out in the third. (Lindgren needed a few of those tonight; Sandin did the same for him in the first, Dowd in the third.)
- From the Boeing out-of-town scoreboard, your boy Nathan Walker fought Minnesota’s Mason Shaw in one of the less coordinated fights I’ve seen this year. More of a do-si-do.
- Alex Ovechkin scored career goal 841 (or 913 if you count playoff goals like I do, like a psycho).
- Ivan Miroshnichenko picked up his first NHL assist on a brilliant, quick, no-look pass to Tom Wilson at the goal’s doorstep. As we reported earlier, tonight’s game means this season consumes a year of the player’s entry-level contract. That’s fine. I don’t know when he’ll be back in Hershey, but I have a feeling we’ll see a lot of him in Caps red in the future.
Nice lil rip from Whip pic.twitter.com/k3oyCV8LPX
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 17, 2024
- TJ Oshie played in his 1,000th career game, showering his behind in stick slaps before it was made official by the opening faceoff. What can I say about TJ Oshie that has not already been said about Adonis. I use this word too much, but Oshie is winsome. He’s the most popular guy in your high school, except he’s great all around and doesn’t drive a Miata. My favorite Oshie moment wasn’t even with the Caps – it was that legendary Olympic shootout. No, nevermind. Fave Oshie moment is any time he chugged a beer through his shirt. Congrats to a legend.
Another late one, but this time we're celebrating TJ. And Craig: nice tie. #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/y7UfS9nsFF
— RMNB (@rmnb) March 17, 2024
Alright, I’m starting to believe. This was not a game they were supposed to win. The Caps’ playoff chances have to be close to 40 percent as of Sunday morning. With the rest of the division waffling and Detroit only now pulling out of a nosedive, I dunno – I could see it happening. Scary thought for some of us.
