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Caps back to Winning - Alexeyev / Fehervary good at WJ - 43/10 career yrs! |
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After losing three straight games, the Washington Capitals got back on the winning side of things, albeit, in a tough matchup vs the Red Wings in Detroit on Saturday evening. The 3-2 victory sends the Caps back home after a 1-1-1 road trip with three games in four nights.
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins on the year, but it was a much needed two points in the tight Metro Divison with the win placing Washington in 1st place by 2 points over Pittsburgh. They will now head home to face fellow Metro division foe Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night before taking off again for a road game in Boston vs the Bruins on Thursday.
Tom Wilson is having a heck of a year. The 6’4, 218 lb winger came into the game on Sunday having appeared in only 21 games so far while missing 17 games due to suspension and injury but has been able to accumulate an incredible 11 goals and 19 points those games. The 2012 1st round pick also has 4 points and 2 goals on the power play.
Against the Red Wings today, Wilson would cash in again for his 12th to give the Caps the 1-0 lead early on a nice feed from Evgeny Kuznetsov at 6:57 of the opening frame. Kuznetsov has seemed to be a bit off lately so it was nice to see him with the shifty play here for the future number-one in Washington. He needs to be more consistent in his 200-foot game. His skill-set could suggest a Hart Trophy nomination, but it seems he just isn't engaged every game. But, when he’s on he is one of the more “sit down and grab your popcorn” players in the league. The milestone assist gave Kuzy 300 career points in 375 games played.
Before the end of the period, Detroit would break even after Caps forward Jakub Vrana, who is having a great year, gave up the puck unfortunately and the Wings went back in on Caps goalie Braden Holtby to tie the game at 14:08. Wings Anthony Mantha was able to beat Holtby five-hole coming in a a mini-breakaway after the turnover by Vrana.
Washington’s power play, which has gone south for the winter as it seems (5 for 44 since Dec 1 coming in), couldn’t cash in at the start of the 2nd frame and Detroit would take the lead for the first time and go up 2-1 when Filip Hronek finished off a nice 3-way passing play from Dylan Larkin just under seven minutes in.
Washington started the 3rd period on the man advantage, but much like the second period, they couldn’t score. However, Travis Boyd would score his 4th to knot the game at 2-2 when Alex Ovechkin fed him a nice pass that he fired past Wings goalie Jimmy Howard who was unable to move fast enough across his crease to make the save. Brett Connolly started the play with great hustle and puck movement to escape the Caps zone to begin the rush. Very happy with Connolly’s play this season.
With just under four minutes left in the tightly checking game, the Capitals would strike to take their second and final lead of the game. Defenseman Michal Kempney scored his 5th making it 3-2 on a seeing-eye shot that made it’s way past Howard. Kempney was fast to release a wrist shot on net after he and Matt Niskanen exchanged quick passes at the blueline.
Next Game: Tuesday vs Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 PM EST
Capital Gain:
Coach Todd Reirden was named coach of the Metro Division All-Star team
1st rd selection in the 2018 NHL draft Alex Alexeyev had a very successful World Junior Tournament in B.C., Canada. The hulking defenseman had 2 goals and 2 assists in 7 games to help Team Russia capture the Bronze medal.
Martin Fehervary (2nd round selection in 2018) also had a good tournament with 1 goal and 4 assists in 5 games for Team Slovakia.
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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