The Washington Capitals wrapped up their homestand against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night. The Caps have been downright terrible against the Leafs in recent seasons, losing 9 of their last 12 meetings.
Morgan Rielly opened the scoring with a goal that Logan Thompson probably wants back. Matthew Knies finished off a great feed from Auston Matthews to make it two. Connor McMichael brought the Capitals back within one with a rebound marker. Anthony Beauvillier came up with the game-tying tally late in the third via a pass from Alex Ovechkin.
Jakob Chychrun stays as hot as the sun to put the Capitals up one. Tom Wilson chipped in an empty-netter.
Capitals beat Maple Leafs 4-2!
- The Capitals had the puck for what felt like the entire first period but left for the first intermission down a goal. Three factors were at play there: first, they got screwed by horrendous officiating; second, their goaltender needed to make that save; and third, Joseph Woll was tremendous in net for Toronto.
- Kelly Sutherland, big red bozo alert. The veteran official decided to rob the Capitals of the game’s opening goal for literally no reason. He can clearly see players from both teams still actively after a loose puck, and blows his whistle anyway because he lost sight of it, as he was miles away from the net for some reason.
- There was no whistle for what felt like the whole first period, which robbed us of seeing the ChasenBoscolo Injury Lawyers commercial at least five times.
- Another dominant period in the second, but the Capitals’ toothless power play reared its ugly head again. Woll was also fantastic when called upon again. Have to just keep pushing and hope for some bounces in the third.
- Just another brutal John Carlson turnover leading straight to an opposition goal. I’m normally a huge Carlson defender, but he’s even testing my patience the past few games. At least his offense has been there, but it needs to be to offset some of these plays.
- Don’t be fooled by a few hot streaks from individuals; the power play is still awful. The problems are within the system and structure and won’t be solved by a simple switch of one or two personnel. I would pay someone $50,000 to tell me the identity and plan A for that power play. They improvise for 90 percent of the time they’re in the zone and just pass it around the outside for the rest. I love him, but Alex Ovechkin also must relinquish the double-shifting. It’s time. Past time. He’s 40 years old and is gassed after the first unit comes off.
- Connor McMichael has goals in two straight games and points in three straight. I mentioned last game that it would be great to see him get on a hot streak. Now, what can we do to get Aliaksei Protas doing the same?
- I didn’t love the first half of the third period. They just weren’t creating enough until that one moment of brilliance from their captain. They started cooking more after that, which was good to see.
- I’m running out of adjectives for Jakob Chychrun. He has goals in five straight games and points in 10 straight. Everyone, eat your watermelon, and you too can lead all NHL defensemen in goals.
- Logan Thompson did his best after the softy in the first period. He was called into serious action a few times after veterans on his team made horrendous passes at the blue line, leading to Toronto breakaways. What a glove save on Knies at the end there.
The Capitals will now embark on a four-game road trip, starting Sunday afternoon on Long Island against the New York Islanders. They’ll then head west for three out in California.
