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Top six dominant in shootout victory: numbers for the morning after

The Capitals opened their new campaign with a 5-4 shootout victory against the Ottawa Senators last night, marked notably by an Alex Ovechkin hat trick. Although Ovechkin may have stolen the headlines, his linemate Jakub Vrana and the rest of the top six forward core were also brilliant.

Despite the one goal margin and the game heading to extra time, the Capitals were in control possession wise. They out-attempted the Sens 49 to 39 at five-on-five.

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By Chris Cerullo 6 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin has 5 more hat tricks than any other player since his debut season in 2005-06

Thursday night, 32-year-old Alex Ovechkin reminded us again just how great of a player he remains. With three snaps of his wrist, Ovechkin scored his 18th career hat trick. Within that 6:33 span, Ovechkin tied the game twice and forced the game to overtime.

Some of the stats surrounding Ovechkin’s accomplishment are mind-blowing. For instance, according to @ESPNStatsInfo, Ovechkin now has 5 more hattys than any other player since making his debut in 2005-06.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin forever: Caps beat Senators 5-4 (Shootout)

Yeah, that’s about right. Just when you thought the Caps had gone all kinds of wrong with their struggling younglings and error-prone veterans, one hulking figure stepped through the mist, scored three goals, and told us all for damn sure that this team won’t be suck this year. Hosted by the Ottawa Senators, the season-opener was your typical Caps game: discombobulated and disorganized, then, suddenly, transcendentally beautiful off the stick of Alex Ovechkin.

In the first period, Chris Wideman plopped a soft one on Braden Holtby to kick off the season much like the last season ended. No worries though. Brett Connolly – who wasn’t allowed to play in 86 percent of the Pittsburgh series – scored on his very first shot of the season.

John Carlson goofed on a neutral-zone pass in the second period, which let Mark Stone restore Ottawa’s lead, which carried into the third.

There, Derick Brassard got a layup after a bad clear by Niskanen left Braden Holtby vulnerable. Now buckle up. Alex Ovechkin started tunneling out with a one-timer set up by Evgeny Kuznetsov, who secured the takeaway. Ovi wasn’t done there – he finished off a tic-tac-toe sequence with Vrana and Kuznetsov to tie the game 83 seconds later. Then Devante Smith-Pelly coughed the puck up in neutral to give Mark Stone the go-ahead goal, momentarily spoiling the comeback effort until Ovi scored again to record his 18th career hat trick with nine minutes left, forcing overtime.

Tired at the end of a 3-on-3 overtime shift, Kuznetsov got called for holding, but stout work by Brooks Orpik held the Senators off for a shootout.

New season, same ol’ shootout bullets!

Bobby Ryan put the biscuit in the basket.
TJ Oshie did not put the biscuit in the basket.
Kyle Turris did not put the biscuit in the basket.
Alex Ovechkin put the biscuit in the basket. His kinda-sorta fourth of the game!
Derick Brassard did not put the biscuit in the basket.
Evgeny Kuznetsov put the biscuit in the basket.

Caps beat the Senators 5-4 in the shootout!

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By Peter Hassett 6 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin scores 18th career hat trick

Despite the Capitals looking rusty in the first two periods of their season opener, they dominated the Ottawa Senators in shot attempts 36-23. The dam broke in the third period.

Alex Ovechkin scored three goals in a six-minute and thirty-three second span. It was Ovechkin’s 18th career hat trick.

The Russian machine is now tied with Mike Modano for 24th on the NHL’s all-time goal list.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Brett Connolly scores Capitals first goal of the season

The Washington Capitals found themselves trailing the Ottawa Senators early, after a Chris Wideman seeing-eye puck found its way past Braden Holtby. But a minute and forty-two seconds later, the Capitals tied it up.

Brett Connolly had the honors.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Caps at Senators pregame: We’re baaaaaaack!

On May 10, the Capitals got shut out by the Pittsburgh Penguins. With a whimper, the best team in Caps franchise history called it a day. Summer was tumultuous. Caps mainstays Marcus Johansson and Karl Alzner left the club; stars Evgeny Kuznetsov and TJ Oshie signed long-term deals; and a horde of new blood joined the ranks. Tonight, the Caps finally return to action, kicking off 2017-18 at the Ottawa Senators with a roster you might not fully recognize.

Puck drop is at 7:30 PM. I’m Good Tweet Pete, and I’ll be rocking your game recap.

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By Peter Hassett 6 years ago

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