Nicklas Backstrom has lived comfortably in Alex Ovechkin’s shadow since he began his NHL career during the 2007-08 season. But here’s another stat to put in perspective just how dominant Backstrom can be when he’s playing his best hockey.
With 9:34 left in the third period, Alex Ovechkin scored on a breakaway to give the Capitals an emphatic 6-0 lead. After the Caps goal horn sounded, the song The Wicker Man by Iron Maiden was supposed to play.
Instead, the Caps game entertainment crew ran an audible and thew on the Penguins’ goal song.
The Washington Capitals unleashed the kraken on the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night, defeating their trash-talking rival 7-1.
After the game, many fantastic happy Caps photos were shared on social media, but there was one picture in particular (that The Score’s Ian McLaren was kind enough to share) that got me really excited. The photo was expertly snapped by Patrick Smith.
After Justin Williams’ scored his second goal of the season on a five-on-three power play, the Capitals embraced in a group hug while Marc-Andre Fleury looked down at the ice, contemplating the meaning of life. Among a sea of red clad Caps fans in the background, there is one enthusiastic finger-pointing fan that stands out among the rest.
The Washington Capitals demoralized the Penguins on the ice, but off of it, it appears they did much of the same to their fans.
According to reader Sean G, late in the third period, Slapshot walked down to the lower bowl to celebrate young Timmy’s birthday. Slapshot gave Timmy some Caps swag and tried to present him with a birthday cake. Instead a blond Pens fan ran down the steps and began flashing her jersey to the camera in an attempt to steal the spotlight. Caps game entertainment workers can be seen trying to shoo her away to no avail.
Slapshot took matters into his own hands.
In the second period, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin left the game after being tripped to the ice by Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. The injury was the only buzzkill of the evening in which the Capitals scored a touchdown (plus an extra point) against their biggest rival.
Several minutes later, Ovechkin would return and go out for a shift with the Capitals power play. In the third period, the Russian machine scored his eighth goal of the season.
Outscored 7-2 in their last two games against bottom-dwelling teams, the Washington Capitals’ play of late was becoming panic inducing. But Wednesday night, the Capitals erased all fears after they exploded for 7 goals against rival Pittsburgh.
Let’s relive them all.
Tonight, the Caps came out roaring against the Penguins. The Caps played one of their best games this season: smart, fast, aggressive hockey. They scored left and right, up and down, and in every way imaginable.
Instead of sputtering, the offense was ferocious. The first period showcased some serious offensive firepower, as the Caps scored while shorthanded, at even strength, and on the power play. Two of the three goals scored in the first were courtesy of T.J. Oshie.
In the second, resident golden god Marcus Johansson casually passed the puck to Dmitry Orlov. One Scoarlov later, the Caps were leading 4-0.
By the third period, it was beyond obvious that the Penguins were putty in the Caps’ hands. I like to think that the mysterious killer instinct Barry Trotz has been pushing for finally reared its head. Justin Williams tallied his second of the season, Alex Ovechkin got on the scoresheet, and Nicklas Backstrom capped off the evening with his second goal of the night. The Caps were utterly dominant.
Caps destroy Penguins 7-1. ¡BAILAMOS!
Dmitry Orlov has joined TJ Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom in the invite-only Goals Party at Verizon Center.
The Russian defenseman’s tally was the Novokuznetsk’s first of the season. It gave the Caps an emphatic 4-0 lead over rival Pittsburgh.
Early Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins taunted the Washington Capitals about their lack of Stanley Cup banners. Later in the evening, the Hockey Gods would strike back.
Goaltender Matt Murray was forced to leave the game after being high sticked in the head by Evgeni Malkin – his own teammate.
Sometimes there’s beauty in the unexpected.
Wednesday night before the Caps’ rivalry game against the Penguins, longtime anthem singer Caleb Green had his mic cut out. So the Verizon Center crowd sung the national anthem themselves.
This is awesome.
