The Washington Capitals have won. DC can breathe a little easier, at least for 48 hours anyway. The defending Cup champs were able to beat Western Conference front-runner Calgary Flames 4-3 last night at Capital One Arena.
The Capitals entered the All-Star break on a seven-game losing streak that had them fallen out of 1st place in the Metro Division and was starting to show signs of regression and complacency leading to turnovers and generally bad overall team defense. While it is only the first game back, the Capitals played with some desperation and energy culminating in the biggest win of the year so far to get off their longest losing streak in five years. The game ended in some emotion as well.
Nic Dowd would get the Caps the early 1-0 lead in a game where they would need it. Calgary is the best team in the NHL in the 3rd period doubling their goals for vs goals against in the last frame so it’s important to get on them early. Dowd made a nice tip past Flames starter Mike Smith after John Carlson sent a shot towards the net. Both Devante Smith-Pelley and Dowd had gone directly to the net in before the Carlson shot in a game-plan the Caps are trying to evolve. Smith handles the puck a lot and was caught here trying to ring the puck around boards instead of passing it to a defenseman and the Caps made him pay.
Calgary would make it 1-1 late in the first as Michael Backlund scored a highlight reel goal.
Just a filthy goal by Backlund. pic.twitter.com/1djpiBme98
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 2, 2019
The Caps have had trouble preventing quick strike goals this year after they have scored and tonight they reversed that trend as Dmitrij Jaskin would get his second of the year just over a minute later to put the Caps back up by a goal 2-1. The goal was a dagger for the Caps as they just battled harder than the Flames defenders in front of the net. Again, a goal scored from the crease area.
The second period is the Caps best period and they came out early once again to grab a two-goal lead. After a turnover at the blue line Tom Wilson played give-and-go with Evgeny Kuznetsov and wired a wrist shot past Smith making it 3-1 just 54 seconds into the period.
WHIP IT GOOD! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/gLwkJn9966
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2019
plz be seated pic.twitter.com/CtuxgSVN2C
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2019
As mentioned earlier the Capitals seemingly take their foot off the gas pedal after a goal. The Flames would get back within one making it 3-2 just over a minute later at 2:17 when Garnet Hathaway would tip a shot by TJ Brodie as the seeing eye puck was deflected twice before getting past a surprised Caps starter Braden Holtby.
Calgary’s dominance in third periods came to play early as the Capitals couldn’t hold off the relentless Flames. It was almost a matter of time before Calgary’s top line got on the board. Elias Lindholm would tip a Johnny Gaudreau shot to tie the game up 3-3 at 12:01. Much like the Caps top line, you have a hard time stopping them and can only hope to contain them. Gaudreau should be a Hart nominee I believe.
However, as luck would have it tonight, the Caps where the ones to close out the 3rd period scoring late in the frame.
Got loud @CapitalOneArena pic.twitter.com/5qai6CPcvh
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2019
The game ended with some fireworks as well including a scrap between Brooks Orpik and Flames irritant Matthew Tkachuk. I hate Tkachuk, but I love Tkachuk.
olde tyme hockey pic.twitter.com/TpfeIHTTTk
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2019
Washington still needs to work on giveaways as they had 16 compared to Calgary’s 6. It’s been an issue ongoing so far this season.
Capitals will look to win two in a row as they host the Boston Bruins tomorrow in an afternoon affair ahead of Super Bowl. Game time is 12:30PM EST from Capital One Arena.