Photo credit: Eric Bolte
Coming into Saturday’s game, the Washington Capitals had scored eight goals in their last seven games. Against the Habs, they had five. Thirteen players tallied a point in the contest while three skaters scored their first goal of the year. None of the markers were more surprising than the one scored by Casey Wellman, called up just before the game in place of the injured Mikhail Grabovski. It was Wellman’s first goal as Capital. Not bad to be assisted by Alex Ovechkin either.
“I’m really happy for the opportunity,” Wellman told reporters after the game. “I got the word last night. We had an away game in Syracuse. Stayed overnight in Syracuse, caught a flight in the morning to Philadelphia, and then transferred here. Got here about three o’clock and got ready for the game.”
GIF by welshhockeyfan.
Wellman’s goal came midway through the third period with the Caps already up 4-0. Ovechkin picked up the loose puck in Washington’s zone, starting a 2-on-1 with the fourth liner. As they got close to the net, Ovi faked a shot before feeding the puck cross ice to Wellman, who put the puck in the net for his fifth career goal and first since January 2012. He had previously scored four other ones in the NHL courtesy of various spurts with the Minnesota Wild. Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Wellman, a center, was brought up to replace Grabovski because of the skating ability he showed in his one other big league game this season.
“I was pretty happy with the way I played,” Wellman said. “I felt good.”
