The Washington Capitals really needed a win over the Detroit Red Wings to keep their 2024 postseason hopes alive and they got just that on Tuesday night. The Capitals got clutch play from their two leading scorers and their mustached man in net to push them over the top.
The season lives on.
- The Capitals ended their six-game losing skid by basically playing the same way they did when they were losing. This time though they played one of the few teams that have been struggling as hard as them at five-on-five so the game kinda-sorta ended up an even mess. Surely to no one’s surprise, the Capitals’ best period was the second where they scored both of their goals. During the second frame, they limited Detroit to just one five-on-five, high-danger chance and created three of their own.
- Dylan Strome kicked off the scoring for the club, potting his 27th goal of the season. Strome has matched his previous career-high of 65 points, which he set last season with Washington, in three fewer games. The clutch goal was also his 300th career point (117g, 183a).
- The big man also got on the board. Alex Ovechkin put away his 30th goal of the campaign, passing former Capital Mike Gartner for the most 30-goal seasons in NHL history (18). Ian wrote a post with all of the other statistical tidbits around the milestone marker. Simply put, greatest goalscorer of all time…but you already knew that.
Ovechkin has scored 22 goals in his last 32 games (0.69 G/GP).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 10, 2024
- Charlie Lindgren was absolutely superb in a 42-save victory. Per MoneyPuck, he stopped 2.19 more goals than expected which means he stole this one for the Capitals. Praise be, Chuckie.
- With Rasmus Sandin out due to injury, John Carlson shouldered a whole load of the minutes. The veteran blueliner played 29:40 of ice time in the win. He has only played more in one other non-overtime game this season, 29:52 against TBL on February 22.
- The Capitals are back in a playoff spot. If they simply win the rest of their four games, they will make the playoffs.
Numbers thanks to Hockey-reference.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.
