Reeling from four straight losses, the Washington Capitals entered Friday night’s game against the Calgary Flames confident they could make it five. But after an encouraging first period in which it looked like they could do so, the Caps started playing well. Maybe on accident.
The lone goal of the first period was Calgary’s: Morgan Frost on a power-play rush. The second period had one goal as well: Hendrix Lapierre’s first since the late 1990’s. Aliaksei Protas scored his 17th of the season to put the Caps ahead in the third. Alex Ovechkin sunk the empty-netter.
Caps win!
- The Caps were outshot 14 to 8 (on goal) in the first period. I was steamed. In this lowly losing streak, on this rough road trip, and they still could muster up scarcely one shot in the first ten minutes. As if they don’t know their season is fizzling and that the fans are fed up.
- And then that penalty kill! Aliaksei Protas, who had just one point – an assist – in the five games before this one, coughed up the puck on an offensive-zone misadventure and gave the Flames an odd-man rush in the other direction.
- Tough to watch those first twenty minutes. I wouldn’t blame you if you checked out and went to bed, but you would have missed some good stuff in the back forty.
- Namely: Hendrix Lapierre scoring for the first time in 90 games. The last one came against Calgary too. This one? Utterly unremarkable except for the lore. I cheered for that goal as much as I did for 895. I hope that goal sparks a turnaround for Lapierre – and for the team around him.
- Justin Sourdif got only the secondary assist on Aliaksei Protas‘s game-winning goal, but he was the one who made it happen with tenacious play along the boards.
- Flames winger Adam Klapka got his ass kicked out for tapping Tom Wilson with his stick from the bench. You can do that all you want from the ice, but if you do it from the bench you are Violating the Honour of the Game and thus you are No True Sportsman.
- Tom Wilson was ejected a few minutes later. He did not do the treason of cross-threshold stick-tipping. Instead, he Spoke Rather Uncouthly.
- Jakob Chychrun tried it. He really went for it. God keep this man. He just wants to entertain.
- I need more time to unpack it, but I think Carbery did some intentional ice-time spreading – maybe because the Caps will be playing tired on Saturday night?
- The Flames have a defender named Yan Kuznetsov. And he committed a dumb penalty.. Sigh. And in a game where a guy tries the Michigan? Too soon, man.
look at these guys smiling as if they don't know exactly what's about to happen in this game #joebsuitofthenight
I’ll take it. The second and third periods were solid Caps hockey. I’ll pretend the first didn’t happen.
Sleep tight, pals. We got a big one late on Saturday. Just as the storm is really kicking our ass, the Caps will visit the Connor McMichael’s nemesis’s Edmonton Oilers.
Stay safe and warm!
