The Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens played a near carbon copy of Game 1 in Game 2 at Capital One Arena. The Caps dominated the first two periods and then let off the gas again in the third.
Luckily, the bounces and big saves went the good guys’ way, and overtime was not needed this time.
- The Capitals were firing on all cylinders again at five-on-five during the first 40 minutes, controlling 65 percent of the expected goals. They created 16 scoring chances and nine high-danger chances in the second period alone, but again only managed two goals going into the third period. Montreal turned their game around in the third just as they did in Game 1, out-attempting the Capitals 30-14 and owning 78.8 percent of the expected goals. The Habs are naturally going to make pushes if they’re down, but the Caps need to figure out how to limit them to something like just five good minutes instead of 15-18 good minutes.
- Logan Thompson was the star of the show in the third, although I’m not sure he actually made the save on that one diving play. I think that puck just hit the post and came out the other side. Still, he was magnificent nonetheless, stopping 25 of the 26 shots he faced in the win. Per MoneyPuck, he saved 1.89 more goals than expected. According to NHL PR, he is only the fourth Capitals goalie to win his first two playoff games with the club, joining Pete Peeters (1986), Michal Neuvirth (2011), and Bob Mason (1987).
- Connor McMichael grabbed his second and third career playoff goals for the Capitals in the win. Per the Caps, McMichael’s three goals in 10 career playoff games are the fifth most among players selected in the 2019 NHL Draft. He trails just Jack Hughes (6), Cole Caufield (5), Kaapo Kakko (4), and Matt Boldy (4).
- Alex Alexeyev deserves a medal for how awesome he has been subbing in for Martin Fehervary after not playing the vast majority of the season and then losing half of his smile to a high stick. During his 28:13 of five-on-five ice time in the two games of the series so far, the Capitals have seen 58.4 percent of shot attempts, 74.4 percent of expected goals, 60.4 percent of scoring chances, and 81.4 percent of high-danger chances. The Caps have also outscored the Habs 2-0 with him on the ice. Just tremendous stuff from a guy the Capitals need to re-sign this summer.
- Another player I thought had a standout game was Ryan Leonard. The 20-year-old rookie put together a performance well beyond his years, earning his first career playoff point on Dylan Strome’s game-winning goal. Leonard has certainly been protected by Spencer Carbery and his staff in terms of zone starts, but he’s done nothing but excel with the opportunity, as he has the top percentages on the team at five-on-five in shot attempts (63.7%), expected goals (81.4%), scoring chances (73.8%), and high-danger chances (85.5%). In this game, he recorded the assist, three shots on goal, five individual shot attempts, one individual scoring chance, one individual high-danger chance, and one hit.
- The last time the Capitals went up 2-0 in a series was the 2019 first round against the Carolina Hurricanes. The last time they went up 2-0 in a series and ended up winning the series was the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Numbers thanks to Hockey-Reference, NaturalStatTrick, and HockeyStatCards.
