After a not so great end to their homestand, the Washington Capitals headed west for their only visit to the Minnesota Wild’s barn this season. The Caps and a returning from suspension Tom Wilson got the job done, smashing the Wild 5-2.
The Capitals out-shot the Wild 33 to 28, but were narrowly out-attempted at five-on-five 42 to 39.
- First things first, Tom Wilson scored his first goal of the season in his very first game of the season after returning from his 16-game suspension which is now technically a 14-game suspension. Time machines ladies and gents, crazy stuff.
This marks the first time Tom Wilson has scored a goal in his first game back from a suspension
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) November 14, 2018
- So, how did the reunited top line look at five-on-five you ask? Pretty damn solid. In a game that saw the Capitals lead big for extended periods of time, Alex Ovechkin led the team in five-on-five shot attempt percentage (58.3-percent). The line overall matched the Wild in terms of scoring chances, but the big number is obviously that they were on the ice for two goals for at even strength to the Wild’s zero.
- On Wilson’s first goal of the season, Evgeny Kuznetsov recorded his 200th career assist. He’s the 22nd player in the team’s history to reach the big, shiny total and is the fastest player from his 2010 draft class to reach it, besting Taylor Hall by 36 games.
The Capitals have scored a NHL-best 27 goals in the second period this season.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 14, 2018
- A goal and an assist for Andre Burakovsky in another quite solid game from the young Swede. I think he’s quietly putting together his best stretch of play so far this season.
- I’m actually pretty surprised with how solid Pheonix Copley has been to start the still young season. I had full belief that he would be a capable NHL backup, but man he’s found a groove. 26 stops for Pheonix in his third win of the season.
Numbers thanks to Hockey-reference.com, NaturalStatTrick.com, and Corsica.hockey.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Wild
Headline photo: Jim Mone
