During a shift in the second period, there were two huge bodychecks. Both were clean, completely legal, and huge.
They both involved TJ Oshie.
Everything could have gone wrong for the Washington Capitals in Game Two. With a couple brutal whistles gone against them early, each yielding a goal, one could understand (if not forgive) if they had put on their grumpypants and stomped their way to a loss. Instead, the Caps stuck to the script and delivered a compelling performance that wouldn’t be unfairly characterized as dominant. I can’t believe this actually happened. I can’t believe this is actually happening.
Tom Wilson scored on the first shift of the game, tipping in Matt Niskanen’s shot. Not long after, a couple suspect calls by the officials spotted Tampa two power plays, both of which were converted courtesy of Point and Stamkos.
In the second period, Devante Smith-Pelly scored a rush goal with a keen assist by Alex Chiasson to tie the game. Lars Eller put the Caps ahead with a net-front crash, then Evgeny Kuznetsov got a little help from the Bolts to get his centering pass into the back of the net just before the second period was over.
Evgeny Kuznetsov set up Alex Ovechkin for a back-breaking breakaway goal to make it 5-2 in the third. Brett Connolly put a wristshot behind Vasilevskiy to send Bolts fans, welp, bolting for the exits.
Caps beat Bolts 6-2! Caps lead the series 2-0!
By Peter Hassett 11 months ago
The Caps quickly lost their early lead after a pair of power-play goals from Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos. The goals themselves were pretty and well-earned by Tampa; the penalties that made them possible: not so much.
By Peter Hassett 11 months ago
Sometimes NHL postseason hockey is not for the faint of heart. Friday night at Amalie Arena, Chris Kunitz committed the most reckless play of Game One, ripping the helmet off of Tom Wilson’s head.
It doesn’t sound that bad until you see the actual replay.
Almost every Caps-Pens game during the Ovi and Sid era has been intense, but tonight it went to a whole ‘nother level. And that level was angry. Alex Ovechkin‘s slash to the ankles of Kris Letang sent the Penguins defenseman crashing into the boards. Everyone wearing a bumblebee costume on the ice wanted a piece of the Russian machine after that. Problem is– like we’ve said a million times– Ovi is made of some kind of weird Russian steel that does not break.
A time machine.
Doug Johnson of Puck Buddys writes for Russian Machine. Tweet at them anon.
We had too much to dream last night. Blame the cough syrup. Either that or this stuff really did happen. We’ve got dazed and confused recollections of hotwiring a hockey time machine, tripping back to the past and then ahead to the future. We saw Gordie Howe play (when men were men), Steve Yzerman (when he was hot), and the Great One (when mullets were cool). We took in a few Penguins games of yore (when a young Sidney Crosby taught us all how to laugh) and even dialed it back further to when Bruce Boudreau was slim …mer. Go Fort Wayne Komets!
Before dropping the contraption back off back at RMNBHQ (with a full tank), we bounced ahead to Friday morning to see how tomorrow’s game against the Pens turned out. So this is in effect a pre-review, we promise only a few spoilers. If Thursday’s game doesn’t go as we witnessed it, that’s because Chris has been screwing with the space-time continuum-thingie again. Ugh, kids.
By Doug Johnson 7 years ago
