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Capitals Surprise Lineup Lose 3-1 to Jets - Update - Fine for Morrissey |
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** The NHL decided to just fine defenseman Josh Morrissey for his WWF style throwdown of Capitals forward TJ Oshie on Wednesday night near the end of the game. See the video below of the incident. Oshie is listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury.
Wednesday morning the Capitals had just played with Tom Wilson back in the lineup and only Brooks Orpik out of the regular lineup. Fast forward to the 1st intermission of tonight’s game and the Capitals were without Michal Kempny (sick), Braden Holtby (upper body) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (left game upper body) and the Capitals were hoping for some others to elevate their game.
The Capitals started out strong but in the end fell to Winnipeg 3-1 in a game where some injuries and bad luck tested the Caps resolve.
With Holby’s absence announced late in the day, the Capitals had 6’7” former WHL goaltender Gavin McHale dress as the emergency backup. The 31 year old McHale is currently the Women’s goaltending coach for the University of Manitoba Bisons. Rookie D Jonas Seigenthaler drew back in for Kempny who should be back next game.
It was about as strong a period the Capitals have played in the 1st allowing only 2 shots on goal with the first Jets shot not coming until 8 minutes left in the frame. Jakub Vrana opened the scoring with his 5th at 13:00 to give the Caps the 1-0 lead. The winger fired a high shot over the blocker of Connor Hellebuyck as he continues his solid play of late. Hometown boy Madison Bowey also recorded an assist on the play.
Washington finished with a 10-2 shot on goal advantage in a period that coach Todd Reirden has been waiting for and to come in a building as tough as the Bell MTS Place had to make him happy especially with the injuries.
At 8:52 of the the period Evgeny Kuznetsov was hit high by Tanev who received an illegal check to the head penalty and Kuzy did not return as the team announced he will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
The 2nd period started out well for the Caps as they almost went up by two when Nicklas Backstrom sprung Vrana again and Hellebuyck had to make a stellar save to keep the Jets down by one.
Alex Ovechkin took a “suspect” tripping penalty at 4:58 and the NHL best Jets PP took all of 7 seconds to tie the game 1-1 when Mark Scheifele took a play out of the Washington TJ Oshie PP setup and buried a one-timer from the slot on a nice feed from Kyle Connor at 5:05. Madison Bowey then immediately took a penalty at 5:31 and Caps surprise starter Pheonix Copley had to make a few ten bell saves including two one-timers from Patrik Laine to keep the game square heading to the 2nd intermission.
The Capitals almost took the lead when Bowey sent Backstrom in after a beautiful stretch pass but the puck rolled across the goal line after the Backstrom shot and barely stayed out.
It was not a good time for a no puck luck as the Jets would take the 2-1 lead soon after on a Ben Chairot shot that glanced off John Carlson’s stick and dipped on Copley.
The Caps would get another PP with 4 minutes left but failed to cash in and Kyle Connor sealed the game with an empty netter to make it 3-1 sending the Caps away with a game they could have won. It was a better effort in a back to back game but alas the Caps remain winless in three such games so far this season.
Late in the game TJ Oshie was hit in the corner by Josh Morrisey in a hit that some would consider dirty. Oshie was clearly not well as he tried to get back in the play.
The winger has taken a beating lately and with his concussion in the past I hope he’s back next game.
Copley was named 3rd star of the game and has looked increasingly comfortable as he gets more minutes. Braden Holtby’s status is listed as day-to -day so Copley may be needed more than even he thought. 2015 1st round draft pick and highly touted goalie Ilya Samsonov could be called up from Hershey pending Holtby’s status.
The Capitals next game is Friday night at 9PM EST at the Pepsi Center in Denver vs the Colorado Avalanche.
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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