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WSH 2, NYR 1 - Ovechkin’s Two Late Goals Save the Day For the Caps |
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Hello All,
Heading into tonight’s tilt against the Rangers, the Capitals were 0-2-0 against the New York on the season. In the first two games, the Capitals were outscored 8-3. If we are being honest, the Rangers absolutely worked the Capitals in the first two matchups. The combination of youth, speed, and playmaking ability has all collectively given the Caps some serious trouble this season. For 2.5 periods today, it was pretty much the exact same story as the first two games.
I want to give some serious credit to the Rangers. This is a fun team to watch when they are going. New York absolutely deserved to win this game in regulation today. The Rangers failed to take advantage of countless opportunities. In particular, two power plays in the third period. If they score on either of those power plays, this game easily ends with a Rangers win. Fortunately for the Capitals, the Rangers allowed them to hang around. If you let a team like the Capitals hang around, you are bound to get burned from time to time.
Here are the stats from the game:
Shots on Goal:
WSH – 18
NYR – 33
Shots on Goal (5v5):
WSH – 18
NYR – 28
Faceoff %:
WSH – 57.1%
NYR – 42.9%
Power Play:
WSH – 0/1
NYR – 1/3
Hits:
WSH – 32
NYR - 23
Blocks:
WSH – 9
NYR – 16
Scoring Chances For:
WSH – 22
NYR – 27
Scoring Chances For (5v5):
WSH – 22
NYR – 20
High Danger Chances For:
WSH – 7
NYR – 10
High Danger Chances For: (5v5):
WSH – 7
NYR – 5
Giveaways:
WSH - 5
NYR – 5
My takeaways from the game:
Vitek Vanecek Keeps the Caps in it Early – Vanecek had a magnificent game once again. Similar to Samsonov’s first period against the Islanders on Tuesday, Vanecek made some spectacular saves in the first period to keep this game within reach. The Rangers had multiple point-blank shots that were denied by Vanecek. It could have easily been a 3-0 game after the first period had it not been for Vanecek’s level of play. Vanecek was awarded the 1st star of the game. He saved 32 of 33 shots, good for a .969 SV%. Since Feb. 16, Vanecek has posted a record of 8-2-1 with a 2.06 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. During that span, Vanecek ranks fifth in the NHL in goals against average and seventh in save percentage among goaltenders with at least 10 games played.
Third Period Penalty Kill by the Capitals – The Rangers scored on their lone power play in the first period, and rather easily I may add. In the third period, the Rangers were able to draw two separate penalties for two power plays. In the two power plays, the Rangers were able to generate five high-danger chances. The PK bent but it did not break in the third period. With a 1-0 lead and the Capitals unable to practically generate any offense at all to that point, the Rangers will look back at these failed power plays as massive missed opportunities to seal this game shut.
Alex Ovechkin – Talk about willing your team to a win. Ovechkin scored two goals late in the third period on practically the exact same play. Georgiev left two juicy rebounds out after a couple Capitals one-timers and Ovechkin was able to out-muscle the Rangers defenders both times and put the puck in the back of the net. Up until this first goal, the Rangers had been absolutely handling the Capitals. Ovechkin’s goal with 6:42 left in the third period was just the Capitals 3rd shot of the period and 14th shot of the game. Before that shot, the Capitals had 12 shots on goal with less than seven minutes left in the third period. Let me say that again…with less than seven minutes left in regulation, the Capitals had 12 shots on goal. Yikes. Ovechkin was on a mission after taking a hit from Lindgren in the first period. The game intensity picked up and you just had a feeling, even with as bad as the Caps were playing, that Ovi was going to do something special. This is the 12th time in Ovechkin’s career he has scored five games in a row. This was his 147th career multi-goal game (ties Gordie Howe for 4th all-time). Ovechkin now sits at 720 career goals, 11 behind Marcel Dionne for 5th most all-time.
Here are Ovechkin’s two goals on the night:
The Capitals win streak is now at seven games. Let’s see if they can put together a full 60 minutes tomorrow against the Rangers, who will surely looking to be avenge tonight’s game. In case you forgot, Tom Wilson’s suspension is officially over, and he is set to return to the lineup tomorrow.
Thanks for reading and GO CAPS
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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