Photo: Mike Stobe
As luck would have it, the NHL mic’d up human wrecking ball Tom Wilson for Tuesday night’s playoff game between the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders. Like the rest of the Caps universe, Wilson rather enjoyed Nicklas Backstrom‘s overtime game-winning goal. The only problem was he couldn’t tell who scored.
By Nathan Burchfiel 8 years ago
Photo: @WashCaps
Tuesday night, the Washington Capitals tied up their first-round playoff series with the New York Islanders on a thrilling overtime goal by Nicklas Backstrom. Or was it?
Upon replay of the goal, it appears the puck might have gone off of the Caps’ Joel Ward or maybe even the Islanders’ Johnny Boychuk.
I love Joe Beninati‘s play-by-play. In fact, I may be his biggest fan. But during Tom Wilson’s crushing hit of Lubomir Visnovsky on Tuesday, the Caps needed someone else in the booth– someone experienced at describing pure carnage.
That man: former WWE commentator Jim Ross.
Since good ol’ J.R. couldn’t be at Nassau Coliseum last night, RMNB reader Sarah Waters was gracious enough to splice some of his classic commentary over Willy Baby’s big body check. Enjoy.
Photo: Bruce Bennett
Where were you when the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Islanders 11 minutes into overtime?
Some of us were at home. Some were at Verizon Center. Some of us were being pelted in the side of the head by beer at Nasseau Coliseum. Some were preparing for postgame coverage.
The Caps and their fans were scattered but united in celebration. Follow me around the world.
By Peter Hassett 8 years ago
Photo: Bruce Bennett
How do you beat Jaroslav Halak? The answer is almost always traffic up front. That’s how Alex Ovechkin got the Caps their first goal, a deflection in the first period. And that’s how, almost 60 minutes of play later, Nicklas Backstrom ended the game– as Joel Ward impersonated a wall in the slot.
You’re supposed to wait until you’re in the dressing room to start crushing beers, but I like Brooks Orpik’s enthusiasm here.
By Peter Hassett 8 years ago
You.
You and I were not prepared for this game. We weren’t girded for the emotional tumult and unrelenting attack. We just weren’t ready. The Caps, though– they were ready. The Isles kept pressing– a ceaseless assault just like we saw in games one and three, but the Capitals had battened down the hatches and set the mainsail and whatever else.
Capitals captain and current Greatest Human Alex struck first, oviflecting a shot by Carlson after Backstrom’s o-zone faceoff win. Casey Cizikas knotted the score after a bad change a big rebound. The second period was packed with penalties, but the Capitals killed them all. The third period was a little more even, but neither team could hit the back of the net. And so, once again, we went to overtime on Long Island.
And then, Nicky Backstrom’s muffin gave the Capitals instant victory.
Caps beat Isles 2-1 in overtime. The series is new at two to two!
By Peter Hassett 8 years ago
This is why I roll my eyes when people tell me on Twitter Mike Green is soft. Nope.
Tom Wilson has an issue with penalties. He draws a ton and commits a ton. On Tuesday he caught a kneeing penalty in the second period. No worries: the Capitals killed it with ease.
But immediately after leaving the Willy bin, Wilson executed the biggest hit we’ve seen these playoffs.
Poor Lubomir Visnovsky, repeated concussion victim, was skating with his head down and hunched over. Wilson stopped moving his legs but didn’t shy away from the hit.
Warning: This post could be upsetting for some.
There was a scary moment late in the first period. Caps defenseman Brooks Orpik took an errant John Carlson skate blade to the face after Carlson fell down in the slot. Carlson’s left skate blade appeared to strike Orpik in the right cheek and mouth area. Orpik left the ice under his own power, running straight down the tunnel for the Caps locker room.
