The Washington Capitals won the biggest game of the season so far, ending a six-game losing streak and defeating fellow playoff-challengers, the Detroit Red Wings.
The Capitals looked abysmal for more than 3o minutes, but a rally late in the second period ended with Dylan Strome hitting the net. Before that period was up, Alex Ovechkin sniped to make it 2-0.
Detroit pushed hard late, earning a last-second goal from Patrick Kane, but not enough time for a tie.
Caps win 2-1!
- For such an important game, I don’t think we need my usual griping about the Capitals playing without the puck too much, disintegrating once they entered neutral, not challenging the goalie enough. Let’s just say the Caps were very bad for the most of the game, except where they scored, and leave it at that.
- I made a joke that the Capitals would have to win undeservedly, but I don’t want that joke to take away from three fantastic shifts leading up to the Dylan Strome goal. After sleeping for 35 minutes, the Caps finished the second period excellently.
- Alex Ovechkin scored a brilliant goal to give the Caps a two-goal lead, to hit 30 on the season, and to draw ever nearer Wayne Gretzky’s record. Ovi becomes the first player to have eighteen 30-goal seasons.
The Great Eight buries career goal No. 852 👀 pic.twitter.com/9uD6CsjLQv
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 10, 2024
- I was apprehensive about TJ Oshie playing. I worry about the guy’s health, and I haven’t loved his play lately. But the guy served Ovechkin for that big goal, and that is worth a lot. I don’t know how much more Oshie we’re gonna get, but I’m gonna try to appreciate it.
- Oshie got busted for a hook late in the game. It was a blatant make-up penalty.
- As a consequence of his skaters’ struggles, Caps goalie Charlie Lindgren had to do a lot of work. He was dialed in, ready for all of it – until Patrick Kane beat him with seconds left. Tough way to end a great game.
- Another cranky bullet about an ESPN broadcast: I didn’t enjoy it. Also, poor Hendrix Lapierre got his name mispronounced as both la-PEAR and la-PEAR-ee-AIR. It’s just Pierre with a la before it. There is no excuse for not knowing how to pronounce Pierre in hockey. Pierre Pilotte is a hall of famer. Pierre-Luc Dubois is in LA. Pierre Turgeon had it coming. There are like 50 more Pierres. Just say that and put a la before it, professional commentator.
- After complaining, from my couch, to my cat, who did not care, about Washington’s poor play early in the game, I delighted in the misery of Detroit fans complaining about missed calls late in the game. To me, they are pathetic. I could never be like them.
- From the Trask Industries out-of-town scoreboard: The Canadiens mud-stomped the Flyers, and the Islanders were protecting a narrow lead over the Rangers at last check.
suits so mid you could smoke a brick
what do you think joe b is wearing right now pic.twitter.com/s2GXfcjCQl— RMNB (@rmnb) April 9, 2024
Well, well, well. Through dubious means, Washington lives to fight another day. They may have dashed Detroit’s hopes in the process. So ends a brutal two weeks and a season-worst six-game losing streak (tied with another six-game losing streak in January). So in spite of everything, the Caps are gonna keep fighting.
I am resigned to the fate that we won’t know if the Caps will make the playoffs until game 82.
