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Caps game 5: WSH 5, NSH 6

October 11, 2019, 1:24 PM ET [4 Comments]
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Well that was crazy! The Capitals and Predators battled back and forth all night in what was a game of odd man rushes. The Capitals let four separate leads disappear in a night they will want to forget. Overall there were some bright spots to highlight but this early season trend of coughing up leads in the third period is becoming problematic. A period by period breakdown:

1st Period
9:17 Lars Eller (1)
Assists: Garnet Hathaway, John Carlson
WSH 1, NSH 0
https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1182452204440997888
Eller creates a turnover in the offensive zone which eventually leads to the sequence where he scores an easy goal. Great control by Hathaway to get the puck to Eller on the doorstep. This was just the beginning of Rinne’s aggressive play all night.


10:39 - Filip Forsberg (4)
Assists: Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund
WSH 1, NSH 1
I gag every time I see a Filip Forsberg highlight, I actually throw up when he scores against the Caps. I don’t care if you have heard before, but the Capitals trading Forsberg for Martin Erat and Michael Latta is arguably the worst trade in NHL history.


2nd Period


4:46 - Alex Ovechkin (2) (Power Play)
Assists: John Carlson, Evgeny Kuznetsov
WSH 2, NSH 1
https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1182464362193149952

FINALLY! The Power play scores and as Ovi goes back to work in his office. Rinne was actually in decent position but Ovi manages to still get through the five-hole. With that power play goal, Ovechkin moved ahead of Luc Robitaille (247) for the fourth most power play goals in NHL history


7:37 - Ryan Johansen (1)
Assists: Viktor Arvidsson, Calle Jarnkrok
WSH 2, NSH 2

Caps unsuccessful with a dump n chase. Nashville eventually gains possession and swings it up the boards and a nice lead pass by Jarnkrok to create the 2 on 1. Nice job by Johansen to somewhat settle the puck and wack it by Holtby.

12:28 - Tom Wilson (1) (Shorthanded)
Assists: Chandler Stephenson
WSH 3, NSH 2

https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1182468800735637504

I had this marked as the potential turning point in the game. Up until this point, Nashville had the momentum and the building was really coming alive. I was honestly impressed with the Fans for Nashville. Great energy for them almost all night. Anyways, Caps able to create an odd man rush thanks to former roster bubble Stephenson. Wilson buries it!

Ovi Draws the PP

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1182475615791910913

17:36 - Alex Ovechkin (3) (Power Play)
Assists: John Carlson, Nicklas Backstrom
WSH 4, NSH 2

https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1182471099491028993

Ovi with an absolute bomb on the play. Two PPG goals on the night and there was no stopping this one. Ovi drew the penalty…Ovi gets the goal. I really felt like Caps had really taken control of this game. They really found their legs in the 2nd period and looked firmly in control.

3RD Period
5:03 - Ryan Johansen (2) (Power Play)
Assists: Viktor Arvidsson, Roman Josi
WSH 4, NSH 3
It took the Preds about 40 seconds to get set up for their PP. They get a puck on net which Holtby initially stops below his right pad. He left it slightly elevated and Johanson comes in to jam the puck in. Pretty impressive he didn’t hit Holtby’s pad in the process. Had he, this goal would be disallowed.


6:13 - Matt Duchene (1)
Assists: Filip Forsberg, Mikael Granlund
WSH 4, NSH 4

That’s two goals 1:13 apart and just like that its 4-4. This ends up being the pivotal turning point of the game. Rierden calls a time out to get the boys settled down and stop the bleeding. This line has been very productive so far this season. It took Duchene a long time to do anything in Columbus. He seems to be acclimating much quicker with this team and line. You can’t deny the chemistry here. Rierden calls a time out to get the boys settled down.

10:09 - T.J. Oshie (3)
Assists: Dmitry Orlov
WSH 5, NSH 4
https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1182482191357366272

The time out seemed to pay off. The Caps regained control and their poise right after the timeout. They had a couple big shifts. Hathaway was out there crushing dudes. Overall the play leads to this chance and the Caps regain the lead.


14:52 - Nick Bonino (1)
Assists: Colton Sissons, Austin Watson
WSH 5, NSH 5
Not even sure what to say here. Bonino somehow gets a piece of the puck and it trickles in down low. Holtby should have stopped this.


15:20 - Mattias Ekholm (2)
Assists: Calle Jarnkrok
WSH 5, NSH 6

Defense had trouble clearing the zone. Orlov had a couple key mistakes tonight and this turnover was one of them. Ekholm eventually gets the puck after the turnover and he slaps it from the point and it finds a way back of the net. Ouch. Caps were back pedaling most of the third period.

Nashville holds on to win 6-5. Ugh. Here are my three takeaways:
1. Third Period Struggles: This is the third straight game the caps have blown a third period lead. This is the second game in three games they have blown a 2-goal third period lead. Remember when the Caps lost game seven to Carolina last year? Yea…they blew two separate 2-goal leads that game too. Caps are a 5-0-0 team if they finish all their game but I won’t make excuses. Every team can say “could have, should have, would have”. FIGURE IT OUT DUDES!

2. Special Teams Stepping Up: The power play finally came to life and executed on 2/4 of their chances. I think they were 0 for their last 12 or something. Oh, and they scored a shorthanded goal!

3. Defense: Between new guys getting called up (Siegenthaler, Fehérváry. Lewington) and recent FA singings (Jensen and Gudas), this is just an entirely new look defense that hasn’t completely gelled yet. Orlov made some costly turnovers tonight. It will be nice to get Kempny back soon. I think Holtby can perform better but the defense needs to help prevent high danger chances.

STAT ATTACK:
1. Most Multi-Goal Games - With the two goals tonight, Ovi notched his 133rd Multi-Goal NHL game moving him to #8 All-Time
Most multi-goal games in NHL history:

1. Wayne Gretzky - 189
2. Brett Hull - 158
3. Mario Lemieux - 154
4. Gordie Howe - 147
5. Phil Esposito - 143
6. Marcel Dionne - 139
7. Mike Gartner - 135
8. Alexander Ovechkin – 133

2. 900th Game for Nicklas Backstrom - Backstrom is the second player from his 2006 draft class to reach 900 games, trailing only to Phil Kessel (998). He has 876 career points which leads his draft class and also has the most assists in the league since 07-08 (644). He was voted by the players last year as the most underrated player in the league. Not a big deeeeaaal

3. Hot Start in Forsberg - Forsberg set a franchise record last night by becoming the first player ever for the Predators to score a goal in the first four games. I did not appreciate his “swish” celebration.

Next Game: Saturday 10/12 @ Dallas Stars

*Id like to see Samsonov start this game. Holtby needs a breather after that wild night.

By Brian S.
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