Capitals Crush Kings, 5-0

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Jon Sorensen
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Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

The Capitals beat the Kings 5-0 Sunday afternoon at Verizon Center. The win raised the Capitals record to 36-11-6 (78 points). The Capitals next host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. Puck drop is 7:00PM. 

caps-linesPhilipp Grubauer got the start in goal. Braden Holtby played the night before in Montreal.

Taylor Chorney was the healthy scratch. Jakub Vrana was re-assigned to Hershey on Sunday morning.

This was the 343 straight sellout for the Capitals at Verizon Center.

QUICK TAKES

  • The Capitals are 24-2-2 with one day of rest this season. (Mike Vogel)
  • Eller’s goal ended a shutout stretch for Peter Budaj of 147:16.
  • The Caps have scored the first goal of the game in 15 of their last 17 games.
  • With Eller’s goal, forwards outside the team’s top six have supplied game’s first goal 17 times this season. (Mike Vogel)
  • Johansson’s goal was his first in 8 games and second in 18 games. He now has 16 in 53 games, so far this season.
  • The Capitals win their ninth straight on home ice; they’ve outscored opponents 45-12 in those nine games.
  • This was Philipp Grubauer’s third shutout of the season. Grubauer stopped all 38 shots today.
  • Nine different Caps now have double-digit goals.
  • The Capitals scored 5 goals on 20 shots for a 25% shooting percentage.
  • The Capitals’ 78 points this season are the second-most in NHL history through a team’s first 53 games of a season, trailing the 2015-16 Capitals (40-9-4, 84 points).
  • Washington’s 36 wins this season are tied with the 2013-14 Blues (36-12-5) for the second-most wins through 53 games in a season, trailing the 2015-16 Capitals.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals once again struck first and early. This time Lars Eller would notch the game’s first goal on a nifty move and tap-in at 3:16 of the opening frame.

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Eller’s goal ended a shutout stretch for the Kings Peter Budaj of 147:16. Marcus Johansson would advanced the Capitals lead to 2-0 at 18:12 of the first period.

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The period would end with the Capitals lead 2-0. The Kings led 12-9 in shots on goal for the period.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would stretch the lead to 3-0 on a nice feed from Tom Wilson to Brett Connolly at 3:43 of the middle frame.

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TJ OShie would make it 4-0 on the end of a nice feed from Nicklas Backstrom at 16:24 of the middle frame.

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The period would end with the Capitals leading 4-0. The Kings outshot the Capitals 15-6 for the period, and 27-14 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
Justin Williams would make it 5-0 late in the final frame to seal the victory for the Capitals.

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By Jon Sorensen

SCENES FROM VERIZON CENTER

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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