The Washington Capitals got back to winning ways with a walloping of the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night, which is like Mega-Friday if you think about. Like, if you can get some time off, today was basically the last real workday of the year. But anyway: hockey.
Aliaksei Protas tipped Andrew Mangiapane’s shot to give the Caps lead in the final minute of the first period. Jakub Vrana used a speed boost to beat Pyotr Kochetkov on the far side – 2-0 Caps. In the final minute of the second period, Connor McMichael used Aliaksei’s big ass as a screen to give the Caps a three-goal lead after two periods.
Halfway into the third, Seth Jarvis broke the shutout with a give-and-go to the short side. John Carlson had a goal taken away yet afreakingain, but the Caps didn’t need it anyway.
Caps win 3-1!
- Whatever else, we’ll remember this as the game Charlie Lindgren stood on his head – LIIIIITEEEERRRRALLY – to win the game.
Charlie Lindgren’s flashy windmill save on Tyson Jost could be Capitals’ save of the year
- We’re not discussing the Jarvis goal. As good as they have been, the Caps haven’t had a shutout yet.
- But it’s worth at least one bullet to say that the Capitals got badly outplayed everywhere except the scoreboard. The Canes had the shot-attempt edge against every Caps line except Dubois’s, and ended up doubling up the Caps in total attempts. Carolina is as good as it gets at controlling play, so if you’re going to beat them, beat them with shooting percentage. They have neither natural immunity nor psychic defenses against high shooting percentages, and they get very upset by it. I’m sure it’s a bad night for Canes fans on X, The Everything App.
- The McDonalds corporation does not pay us to promote their company through their giveaway gimmick. You probably already know that the Caps scored goals in the final minute of the first and second periods.
- From the McDonalds out-of-town scoreboard: Although they’ve crawled back mostly from a five-goal hole, the Buffalo Sabres fell to the Maple Leafs. They are 0-8-2 in their last ten. Their last win came on November 23, but it was against San Jose, so does it even count?
- After all the discourse around Jakub Vrana, it was great to see him hit the back of the net. He had a lot of trouble securing zone exits during some defensive-zone shifts early in the game, but once he got open ice in front of him he reminded us how dangerous he is.
- Aliaksei Protas didn’t get a point on the
firstonly McMichael goal, but he made it happen as much as the goal-scorer did. He planted his 6′ 6″ frame in front of Kochetkov, who didn’t stand a chance. - John Carlson had another goal taken away. Fourth time this year.
There is one Metro still working. Caps vs Canes #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/tSGaXFgJbS
— RMNB (@rmnb) December 21, 2024
I was scared of this game on the schedule, especially after a two-goal slide earlier in the week. And watching the flow of play, I was right to be scared. The Canes run so deep, and they’re so aggressive without the puck. It must suck to play against them.
Oh well, shooting percentage. Caps had it, Canes didn’t. It’s the secret of positive thought. It’s manifesting. It’s the power of friendship. It’s a Christmas miracle. It’s fluctuations in a chaotic stat. I don’t care. It feels great. We got highlights. They don’t.
Sunday. 5:00 PM. Los Angeles. Let’s give those Californians a taste of DC winter: gray, slushy, it’s dark before puck drop, streets are teeming with political staffers, their lanyards swinging lazily like bloated testicles as they amble down F street, eyes agape in panic and horror, knowing their end is near, like they watched the videotape from The Ring last weekend but aren’t ready to cancel plans for Sunday brunch.
