The Washington Capitals met the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night with their season on the line. A win of any kind and the Capitals would go postseason dancing and wrap up the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Alex Ovechkin struck first, serving as the backboard for a Dylan McIlrath shot to put the Capitals up near the end of the first. Erik Johnson tipped home a shot to tie the game in the second. TJ Oshie pots an empty netter to win the game.
Capitals beat Flyers 2-1!
- The Capitals came out flying against the Flyers and almost scored on their very first shot attempt of the game as TJ Oshie hit the inside of the post behind goaltender Samuel Ersson. After a lull in the middle of the period following an extended official review, the Caps turned their jets back on in the latter portions of the first frame and found the game’s first goal. They limited Philly to just seven total shots on goal in the period, their fourth-straight period allowing less than double digits in shots.
- The official review turned out to be a huge break for the Capitals. Charlie Lindgren seemed to believe he had a high shot wrapped up in his equipment and so did one of the referees who blew his whistle to blow the play dead. The puck, which had actually shot straight up in the air off of Lindgren, then came down and glanced off another Flyers player and into the net. After conversing with Toronto, the play was determined to have been blown dead prior to the puck caroming off the Flyers player and in. Hence, no goal and a fortunate sigh of relief.
- Alex Ovechkin scored his 31st goal of the season to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. The Great Eight’s 853rd career marker wasn’t a pretty one but you’ll take them any way you can get them at this point of the year and with the ultimate chase he’s on. Dylan McIlrath grabbed the primary assist by banking a shot off of Ovechkin and past Ersson.
Take 'em however you can get 'em, O pic.twitter.com/Kj2ylUhQb8
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 16, 2024
- The second period was basically the inverse of the first and the Capitals were on their heels for the vast majority of it. They were lucky to get to the second intermission just with the game tied as Charlie Lindgren needed to play hero on multiple occasions. Recording just 12 shots through 40 minutes of a must-win game is not good enough.
- I think Dylan McIlrath has been surprisingly effective in both of his spot starts during this final week. I think his game excels in these games where referees just throw the NHL rulebook out of a window because he’s allowed to just do whatever he wants. The style the Capitals have been playing also definitely fits him more than it does someone like Ethan Bear.
- Aliaksei Protas had multiple huge scoring chances in this game and just could not find the back of the net. His finishing has been a recurring problem and is what is holding him back from that next level of player in the league.
- Does anyone have any of their nails left? Good lord.
- An empty netter as a game-winning goal in a game like this is hilarious. Fitting that it came down to the final minutes of the entire season.
What could be the final #JoeBSuitOfTheNight of the season pic.twitter.com/8arPhJPTTz
— RMNB (@rmnb) April 16, 2024
Bring on Peter Laviolette and the New York Rangers!
