AMAZING NEWS:Capitals keep the positive momentum going as they…
Capitals keep the positive momentum going as they put together another big road victory: numbers for the morning after.
The Washington Capitals have turned their road trip out west around by taking down a very good Vancouver Canucks team on Saturday night. The Capitals are now 2-2 on their trip and have a chance to grab a winning record in the five-game foray against Western Conference opposition with a win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
- The Capitals played the Canucks well at five-on-five outside of the first half of the first period and a few spells late in both the second and third periods. Overall they were the better team and really turned the pressure up in the second when they scored their two goals in quick succession. The Capitals put together 13 scoring chances and six high-danger chances in the second frame and then battened down the hatches in the third very well, slowing things down and forcing the Canucks to the outside. Vancouver out-attempted the Capitals 32-8 in that third but only recorded two high-danger chances. Great defense.
- I love TJ Oshie. Although it’s probably terrible what he’s currently doing to his body, I am so happy he was able to get into this game. Not only did he finally get that 1,000th game out of the way, I thought he was a real positive player out there. No points to show for it but he did sorta set up the game-winner and would have had an assist on it if Connor McMichael hit the empty net instead of Alex Ovechkin’s pants.
- Alex Ovechkin did not miss that empty net and now has 841 career goals. Ovi is just one goal shy of his 19th career 20-goal season. Let’s hope he hits another hot streak and somehow gets to 30.
- Charlie Lindgren was a beast…yet again. I’ve said it before but some general managers around the league have to be kicking themselves that they didn’t try to pry Lindgren away from the Capitals at the deadline. He made 21 stops in the win and per Capitals PR has a 4-1 record with a 1.20 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage in his last five starts.
- Ivan Miroshnichenko recorded his first NHL assist and what an assist it was. Miro has now played in 10 games this season which means the Capitals have burned the first year on his three-year, entry-level contract. Technically speaking, Miro’s a full-time NHL player now. He’ll be back in Hershey at some point in the spring but it sure looks like he’s a Capital until the wheels fall off in the NHL this season.
- Another really nice night for Alex Alexeyev on the blue line. He started the play that led to the game-winner and with him on the ice at five-on-five the Capitals held positive differentials in scoring chances (+4) and high-danger chances (+3).