|
WSH 4, CBJ 3 - Ovechkin Passes Hull for 4th All-Time |
|
|
|
|
|
Hello All,
The Washington Capitals finished off back-to-back road games with a 4-3 win against the Blue Jackets in Columbus, OH. It wasn’t pretty but the Caps got the job done!
Here Are the Stats:
Shots on Goal:
WSH – 28
CBJ – 29
Shots on Goal (5v5):
WSH – 27
CBJ – 26
Corsi For %:
WSH – 45.87%
CBJ – 54.13%
Corsi For % (5v5):
WSH – 47.87%
CBJ – 52.13%
Power Play:
WSH – 0/1
CBJ – 0/2
Hits:
WSH – 27
CBJ – 12
Blocks:
WSH – 16
CBJ - 13
Scoring Chances For
WSH – 18
CBJ – 33
Scoring Chances For (5v5):
WSH – 16
CBJ – 31
High Danger Chances For:
WSH – 2
CBJ – 14
High Danger Chances For: (5v5):
WSH – 2
CBJ – 13
My Takeaways:
Caps Find a Way to Win –If you reference the statistics above, the Capitals were outplayed in almost every aspect of the game. At least for the categories that typically translate to wins. The Jackets held a strong advantage for “Corsi Percentage For” at 5on5 and “all” strengths according to NatrualStatTrick. In perhaps some of the most lopsided numbers of the season for the Capitals, the Jackets “out chanced” the Caps 31-16 at 5on5. When looking at high danger chances, the Capitals only mustered 2 high danger chances all game compared to the Jackets 14. So how did the Capitals score four goals with minimal opportunities and Corsi Percentage For? Objectively speaking, I thought Joonas Korpisalo for the Jackets could have played better. The Capitals barely tested him yet when the Capitals did get a clean look, they seemed to put the puck in the back of the net. The Ovechkin goal was partially deflected but should be saved more often than not. Korpi probably would have liked to have both those goals back from 4th liner Garnet Hathaway. Credit to the Caps again for capitalizing on those limited opportunities they had. I have been beating the drum for depth guys to step and score and it seems to be coming to fruition the last week or so. Like I said from the top, it wasn’t the Capitals best effort, but they found a way to get the win!
Ovechkin Scores 742nd, Moves into 4th All-Time – Ovechkin continued his hot stretch to start the season by scoring his 12th goal in 14 games. The goal moves Ovechkin ahead of Brett Hull and into sole possession of 4th all-time in the NHL goals list. He now sits only 24 goals behind Jaromir Jagr who has 766 goals. Ovechkin is on pace for 70 goals this season. Will he hit 70? Absolutely not. I think it is fair to say he will hit 50 and actually has a strong shot at 55 even 60 goals. For a 36-year-old, that would be truly remarkable! It cannot be said enough just how amazing this record is for Ovechkin. He keeps climbing and climbing and climbing! I expect him to finish the season with at least 55 goals which would put him at 785 goals all-time, only 109 sky of Gretzky.
Depth Scoring –The final three goals of the game for the Caps were scored by Garnet Hathaway (2) and Conor Sheary. With all the injuries the Capitals are dealing with right now, it is imperative for depth guys like Hathaway and Sheary to contribute and produce. As hot as Ovechkin is, he can not possibly keep it up every single night. The two Hathaway goals were pretty filthy. What an extra pass by Jonsson-Fjallby to set up Hathaway on his first goal on the night! It was Jonsson-Fjallby’s first NHL point and what a pretty one.
Honorable Mention for the Caps: Ilya Samsonov played quite well for a majority of the night. He only gave up three goals on 31 scoring chances, 16 of which were high danger chances
Honorable Mention for the Jackets: Sean Kuraly who is a local kid from Dublin, OH, scored his first two goals as a Jacket on home ice. I am sure he usually has tons of family and friends at games in hopes to witness his first goal as a Jacket. Pretty cool story for him!
Next Up the Capitals return home to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday @ 7pm. I have two extra tickets if anyone wants them. I have a beer league game at the same time. The tickets are upper bowl 433 row A (front row). Some of the best seats in the house imo. Message me if interested.
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»