In the spirit of RMNB’s unwavering commitment to hard-hitting journalism, here’s another update to Tom Wilson and TJ Oshie’s bizarre pregame butt-slashing routine.
Tuesday night at Verizon Center, Wilson decided to keep the ritual short, whacking Oshie’s gluteus maximus once. It paid off big time.
Tuesday night at Verizon Center, the Washington Capitals hosted regular-season game number 37 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The stakes were low, but by the end of the night, it felt like the Caps had won a playoff series.
Between the Russian hat trick of goals (Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Dmitry Orlov all scored) to the team’s multiple improbable comebacks, the Caps really wanted to win and their celebrations reflected that.
For instance, when John Carlson scored to tie the game 5-5 late in the third period, the Caps started to punch each other.
Dmitry Orlov may be the player on the Washington Capitals roster that fans and analysts alike are most divided on. Known for his high-risk, high-reward style, Orlov is a dynamic player, but his style of play can lead to very noticeable mistakes when opponents are able to make him pay for his risky and sometimes ill-advised maneuvers. To his detractors credit, the chances that the Caps allow when Orlov is on the ice are often quality chances.
However, the point of many of his defenders is that despite his very noticeable gaffes, Orlov is a net-positive for his team. Since 2014, the Caps have scored 57.5 percent of the total goals when Orlov is on the ice, second only to Mike Green during the span.
Both sides of the Orlov debate have valid points. But on Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, there were many examples of why Orlov’s supporters are willing to excuse so many mistakes. Without his high-risk, high-reward style, the dynamic plays he made last night to help the Caps to victory wouldn’t be possible.
(more…)
By Patrick Holden 5 years ago
Tuesday night at Verizon Center, Alex Ovechkin gave the Capitals a thrilling 6-5 overtime win. He also accomplished some more history. The one-time goal, which was beautifully assisted by John Carlson, was Ovechkin’s 19th overtime tally of his career.
Not only is that a Caps’ franchise record, Ovechkin is now tied with with hockey fossil Jaromir Jagr for the most OT goals in NHL history.
On Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals, the Maple Leafs brought along around 30 dads, brothers, and father-in-laws for a highly-anticipated trip. This season, the Leafs, under second-year head coach Mike Babcock, have a “mandate” to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for their players.
“To have these dads along, I think this is how you treat people right,” Babcock said in an article by Chris Johnston of Sportsnet. “It gives you an opportunity to thank your dad for what he’s done.”
By Chris Gordon 5 years ago
The Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs just engaged in an instant classic.
After taking an initial 1-0 lead, the Capitals would comeback three separate times (2-1, 4-2, and 5-4) before winning in overtime. The Caps’ 6-5 OT victory would end the Leafs’ winning-streak at five games.
Let’s celebrate by re-watching all the of the goals.
We came into tonight’s #CapsCanadianNight with three streaks in jeopardy of being broken. The Caps PK had killed off 29 straight power plays coming into tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs had won 5 straight games, and also have not lost a game in which forward Connor Brown scored a goal. All of those streaks were broken. No streak for you.
The first period saw both offenses explode for 5 goals combined, which is abnormal in games involving the Caps as they have allowed the least amount of first period goals this season. Kadri, Brown, and Gauthier on the board for the bad guys. Williams and Oshie for the Caps.
The Leafs made it 4-2 in the second when Auston Matthews showed why he is the savior of USA Hockey and my new favorite player that isn’t a Washington Capital. Period ended 4-2 Leafs.
Your Caps responded strongly with two quick goals in the first five minutes of the third to tie the game 4-4. Kuznetsov and Orlov on the board. But the Leafs wouldn’t go down quietly as Mitch Marner made it 5-4 on a breakaway, Leafs rookies involved on all 5 goals. Real American Hero John Carlson re-tied it 5-5.
ALEX OVECHKIN won it in over time!
Caps beat Leafs 6-5!
By Chris Cerullo 5 years ago
Auston Matthews scored four goals in his NHL debut, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Tuesday night at Verizon Center, the young superstar tallied his most beautiful assist of his career, finding Leo Komarov in the slot after some insane dangling.
This kid is really, really good.
After a period of playing the Toronto Maple Leafs and serving not-poutine, the Capitals continued their Canadian Heritage Night celebrations by giving the Mites on Ice a little festive wardrobe change.
They sported some warm-looking flannel as little lumberjack children.
By Elyse Bailey 5 years ago
Last season, Justin Williams scored 22 goals for the Capitals – the most goals he’s tallied since notching 22 during his 2011-12 campaign. Williams did not have the same mojo for the start of the 2016-17 season.
Stick scored two goals in his first 24 games. That cold stretch included several hard-to-fathom, bad luck plays like having a goal taken away after the puck crossed the goal line a tenth of a second too late.
But lately, Williams’ mojo has returned and suddenly he has the midas touch. He has eight goals in his last 13 games. Williams tallied his 10th goal of the season Tuesday after redirecting a Dmitry Orlov shot on the power play with his skate.
