The Washington Capitals completed a commendable month of March with a mixed match against that mighty mob from Massachusetts, the Boston Bruins.
Hampus Lindholm kicked us off with a goal through multiple screens, the lone goal of the first period. Mike Sgarbossa got the Caps in the game with a breakaway goal set up by Nick Jensen. Scarcely a minute later, John Beecher beat Dylan Strome and then scored a sick five-holer to restore Boston’s lead, which big-day boy John Carlson nullified with a power-play lay-up goal.
Tied 2-2 after regulation, both teams collected their points and headed to overtime. There, Hampus Lindholm high-sticked TJ Oshie, but the Caps couldn’t convert a four-minute power play.
Onto the shootout!
- DeBrusk put the biscuit in the basket
- Oshie did not put the biscuit in the basket
- Coyle did not put the biscuit in the basket
- Strome put the biscuit in the basket, sick shot
- Pastrnak put the biscuit in the basket, trickling in
- Milano put the biscuit in the basket, roofed it
- Marchand did not put the biscuit in the basket
- Ovi did not put the biscuit in the basket
- Shattenkirk put the biscuit in the basket
- McMichael did not put the biscuit in the basket
Caps lose in the shootout.
- John Carlson played in his 1000th NHL game. Carlson has played more than 25 minutes in 311 of those games (including tonight) and over 30 minutes in ten. He’s been a monster for the Caps, and I don’t think we appreciate him enough, probably because of the turnovers along the blue line during the power play, dang it, see there – there I go again. He’s an amazing player, and I didn’t even notice his errant pass that lost the offensive zone in power play. Like I said: we don’t appreciate him enough.
- So wonderful to see a guy play well on his milestone night. I remember being offended that Mike Knuble got low ice time on his 1000th game. Carlson scored a big goal while playing double duty on both the first and second power-play units while Sandin is out.
- That goal tied Carlson with Kevin Hatcher for most goals scored for the team (149).
- Hey, while we’re remembering Knuble, another beloved Cap of yore was in town: Tomas Fleischmann. He rocked.
Tomáš Fleischmann's in the house!
Good to see you, Flash 👋#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/MkqV4xphPS
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 31, 2024
- Okay it’s time to talk about the actual game. The Caps didn’t have nearly enough offense, but we’ve heard that story all season. I thought the team played great for most of the first period, but once the Bs got cooking prior to that first goal they didn’t stop. The Caps got absolutely clobbered during five-on-five play in the second period, credited with just two shots on goal in 16 minutes.
- Meanwhile, unlikely Caps mainstay Mike Sgarbossa scored his fourth of the season. I’m slightly surprised he even got a sweater, but I’m always happy to see him on the ice.
- Beck Malenstyn was on the hook for the Lindholm goal and got busted for an unwise tripping penalty. I mention the penalty only because Malenstyn has been very disciplined lately: that was his first minor in a month and a half. He remains an interesting and curious player; let’s talk about him in the snapshot tomorrow.
- Regarding the Protogen out-of-town scoreboard, the Wings got a loser point and the Flyers got rocked by the Hawks, so the Caps should technically own third in the Metropolitan. Overall a good night.
- Would of been better if Ovi scored though. This was his third in a row without hitting the back of the net. He played pretty much that entire OT power play, which might have been excessive in hindsight, especially when the formulation forgets he’s there.
Big smiles. The purple is a nice touch. Like a comic book villain. #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/5gHGoPzDzB
— RMNB (@rmnb) March 30, 2024
So ends March, a very good month for the Washington Capitals despite a very challenging schedule. They went 9-5-1 and against all odds are alive for the playoffs. I think they can make it, but I need them to generate more offense somehow.
