The Washington Capitals hosted the league-leading Colorado Avalanche to Sunday brunch with mimos and mini-quiches. With one team locked for the postseason and the other holding onto their last glimmer of hope, there should have been a palpable how-bad-do-they-want-it difference.
Justin Sourdif scored a beautiful breakaway goal assisted by Connor McMichael to give the Caps a 1-0 lead. That lead survived the second period and evaporated immediately at the start of the third. That’s when Gabe Landeskog punished Logan Thompson for leaving the net. After a failed clear, Nicolas Roy gave Colorado the lead.
Alex Ovechkin, the god, scored a one-timer on the power play. That got the Caps a loser point, which is all they could muster.
Caps lose.
- That was an ideal first period for the Capitals, leading on the scoreboard and pushing play in the right direction. Against a fearsome, league-leading Colorado team, I was encouraged. Then the second period happened, and the Caps got outshot 18 attempts to 6. Thank goodness for Logan Thompson, who was perfect through forty minutes – but more on that in a moment.
- Connor McMichael flipped a perfect pass to Justin Sourdif on the rush to give the latter his 14th goal of the year.
- I did the math: Logan Thompson has had a shutout through two periods only to allow a goal in the third period ten times this season. That’s what happened Sunday, and for once that shutout-busting goal is on him. Bad bounces don’t hurt so bad if you’re in your crease.
- Ethen Frank got injured after Devon Toews shoved him into the Colorado goal post. I’m not saying it’s remotely on the same level as the AJ Greer hit from last, but I’d like to see that kind of play get punished more often.
- Aliaksei Protas drew two penalties in the third period. I had a whole riff going about that being a bad thing because the Caps are trash on the power play, but then…
- Alex Ovechkin scored his 1,000th goal if you combine rego and loffs. 1,029 if you count the shootout. 1,030 if you count the shootout, rego, loffs, and that one in 2010 where Knuble got busted for a BS goalie interference. Today’s goal was a classic Ovi Shot from the Ovi Spot, except with Strome doing the setup. It was Ovechkin’s first power-play goal at home all season.
- Cole Hutson picked up his first NHL penalty (holding MacKinnon) and his first NHL assists (secondary on Ovi’s). Tomorrow he’ll pick up his first NHL road-trip dinner bill.
- All Avs in overtime.
Spring has sprung in Joe B's wardrobe #joebsuitofthenight of the afternoon
Getting even one point from this game is a win in a sense. That was the last “oh god they’re scary” game of the season, and the Caps got out of it with dignity. They are still alive.
Blues on Tuesday.
