Peter Hassett

About Peter Hassett (@peterhassett)

RMNB co-founder, editor, publisher, writer. Responsible for RMNB's serious journalism, scurrilous nonsense, quantitative analysis, and qualitative feelings.

Flyers beat Caps 3-1 to sweep home-and-home series

The Washington Capitals’ rematch with the Philadelphia Flyers went much like the first one, which is to say: not great!

Scott Laughton tipped Tony DeAngelo’s shot to put the Flyers up in the first, but Alex Ovechkin worked hard for a rebound to tie it up through the first period. Philly got two in the second period, both through defensive breakdowns: one from James van Riemsdyk and the second from Wade Allison. The Caps played a real good third period, but Carter Hart wasn’t letting anything past.

Caps lose. Flyers take wins in both halves of the home-and-home series

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By Peter Hassett 2 months ago

1 Comment

Thanks to Darcy Kuemper, Caps beat Blue Jackets 1-0

The Washington Capitals brought two fresh faces into their Sunday evening game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson returned to action for a game that was… well… not very good, aside from the winning part.

Erik Gustafsson continued his improbably hot streak, thanks to a fortunate bounce near the crease. Then we went a million years without a goal. Kuemper secured his league-leading fourth shutout of the season.

Caps win!

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By Peter Hassett 3 months ago

2 Comments

Actually, I like Anthony Mantha

Forward Anthony Mantha has played on the fourth line in Washington’s last two games. That’s an odd fit for a player earning $5.7 million dollars against the salary cap. And it’s continued evidence that the relationship between the player and team is broken.

That’s a shame, because I really like him.

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By Peter Hassett 3 months ago

23 Comments

Caps blow out Blue Jackets 6-2

The Washington Capitals trounced the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road on Thursday night. It wasn’t a pretty game, but it was a pretty good win.

Johnny Gaudreau had been slumping until the Caps made a half dozen mistakes on his path to scoring the game’s first goal. In the second, TJ Oshie tied the game with a one-timer on a loose puck, then Nicolas Aube-Kubel did a big solo effort to give Washington the lead. That lead lasted scarcely a minute before Gavin Bayreuther notched his first goal since May 2021, taking advantage of a failed zone exit by Milano and Jensen. Martin Fehervary legit headed a puck into the net, then Garnet Hathaway ended a heavy shift to give Washington a 4-2 lead after forty minutes.

Bayreuther got his second of the game in the third until it got called back. TJ Oshie actually scored his second of the night as Columbus disapparated while trying to clear their zone. Alex Ovechkin scored on a gorgeous one-timer to make it 6-2.

Caps win!

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By Peter Hassett 3 months ago

2 Comments

Upstaged by Tage: Sabres beat Caps 5-4

Sadly, the Washington Capitals did not score nine goals in Tuesday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres. They still gave us a good game, albeit one marred by some late, unfortunate penalties.

Tage Thompson (remember that name) set up for a brilliant goal in the first, with Sonny Milano striking back on a breakaway to tie it up, but Tage scored from the Ovi Spot to give Buffalo the lead after twenty minutes.

Tage scored his second of the game early in the second, which clearly bothered Alex Ovechkin, who scored off a set play to bring Washington within one goal.

Nic Dowd tied the game early in the third, grabbing Milano’s rebound. Ovechkin notched his second of the game to give Washington their first lead of the night. SNL funnyman Colin Jost tied it back up with a gritty one in the slot about halfway through the third. That pushed us into overtime, where Tage Thompson completed the hat trick to win it.

Caps lose.

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By Peter Hassett 3 months ago

2 Comments

Fireworks: Caps beat Canadiens 9-2 as Ovechkin scores hat trick!

The Washington Capitals wrapped up 2022 with a ferocious win over the sometimes-feisty Montreal Canadiens.

Erik Gustafsson kept his red-hot streak going with an early goal assisted by Kuznetsov. Tipping in Aliaksei Protas’ pass, Garnet Hathaway made it 2-0 Washington going into first intermission.

Cole Caulfield cracked Charlie Lindgren with an unstoppable shot, but Nic Dowd returned fire by crashing the net. Alex Ovechkin finished off a great forecheck by Eller and van Riemsdyk, but Caulfield forced a turnover to get Montreal back into the game. Dylan Strome’s power-play roof shot made it 5-2 after forty minutes.

Ovechkin got his second of the game on a power play early in the third: a classico from the Ovi Spot. With help from Kuznetsov, Marcus Johansson did some loop-the-loops before scoring his 10th of the season. Anthony Mantha scored on a breakaway, and then Alex Ovechkin did the same, securing a hat trick and making it 9-2.

Caps win!

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By Peter Hassett 3 months ago

3 Comments

What’s in and what’s out for 2023

One hockey game and some cheap sparking white wine are all that stand between us and the year 2023. I am eager to welcome in the new year, but there are some things I would like us not to bring with us into it.

Now, using a convenient and familiar framing device, I present what’s in and out for 2023.

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By Peter Hassett 3 months ago

0 Comment

Caps beat Rangers 4-0 for big division win

The Washington Capitals finally played their first game of the season against the New York Rangers and earned a very impactful regulation win.

Marcus Johansson opened up scoring with a power-play goal, cleaning up a loose puck in the paint. In the second, Erik Gustafsson was the late guy on a rush attack, and before the period was up Lars Eller added a skill goal from the slot.

Conor Sheary got a shorty – no jokes, please – and that was that.

Caps win! Darcy Kuemper shutout!

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By Peter Hassett 3 months ago

6 Comments

Good Caps tidings for Christmas

As of Christmas Eve, the Washington Capitals have won their last four games, having gone 9-1-0 over the last ten games.

Way back at the beginning of the month, I wrote:

To [make the playoffs, the Caps would] need to win 72 of their remaining 114 points. That would be a .631 standings-points percentage for the rest of the season, which would be the tenth best record in the league right now.

Are the Capitals about to be a top-ten team?

Short answer: yes. Actually, right now they’re like a top-two team.

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By Peter Hassett 3 months ago

1 Comment

Caps beat Senators 3-2 as Ovechkin collects two assists

The Washington Capitals played a strong road game against the Ottawa Senators, but too many penalties cost them a tidy regulation win.

Alex DeBrincat used wizardly power to deflect one past Darcy Kuemper. Evgeny Kuznetsov got a power-play goal assisted by Ovechkin. Sonny Milano crashed the net to clean up a shot by Alex Ovechkin. Drake Batherson tied it during a mega-sized power play early in the third. It was 2-2 after sixty minutes, then Marcus Johansson got the OTGWG.

Caps win!

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By Peter Hassett 3 months ago

3 Comments

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