Photo: Len Redkoles/Getty Images
The Capitals suffered a brutal 8-2 road loss Saturday at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyersl dropping the team’s record to 3-2-1 on the young season. This game had few, if any, bright spots. One of them was Nicklas Backstrom, who scored the Capitals’ second goal of the game. With the goal, he stretched his point streak to five games.
Backstrom has occupied the top line this season, paired with Andre Burakovsky and T.J. Oshie. Let’s take a look at how Backstrom reached the scoresheet in the last five games.
Saturday Oct. 7 vs. Montreal: Assist on Oshie goal.
Monday Oct. 9 at Tampa Bay: One goal and two assists on both of Oshie’s goals.
Wednesday Oct. 11 vs. Pittsburgh: Assist on Alex Ovechkin goal.
Friday Oct. 13 at New Jersey: One goal and three assists on two Oshie goals and one Ovechkin goal.
Saturday Oct. 14 at Philadelphia: One goal
Backstrom’s goal came 13 seconds after a goal by Claude Giroux. Oshie received a long pass from Brooks Orpik just before mid-ice and tapped it to Backstrom where he beat the defense on the breakaway and buried it past Brian Elliot.
Breakaway finish. #CapsFlyers#ALLCAPSpic.twitter.com/BhutRiC01v
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 15, 2017
The goal gave the Caps life, but that momentum was short-lived as the Flyers answered with four unanswered goals.
It was a sloppy game played. From careless puck turnovers to growing pains by the young defense. After the game, Backstrom addressed those miscues when he spoke with reporters.
“We can’t just give away the puck all the time. If we’re not realizing that pretty quick, it’s gonna be a long season,” said Backstrom. “In hockey it’s all about possession and we have to manage the puck. We have to make sure when we have it, we take care of it. You can’t just give it away all the time, or else it’s gonna be bad.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Capitals. On Tuesday night they’ll welcome the young, speedy and very talented Toronto Maple Leafs to Capital One Arena. They’ll be off on Sunday and then get back to work Monday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.
“We as a team need to make better plays, simple as that,” Backstrom concluded.
The Maple Leafs defeated the Canadiens 4-3 in overtime Saturday night in Montreal. Auston Matthews scored twice including the game-winner in overtime.
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo
God bless Saint Nick. 🇸🇪👑
Pingback: Washington Capitals Daily Links: Regrouping for the Toronto Maple Leafs | NoVa Caps
Nick has been great. The defense — not so great.
Pingback: Capitals’ Defense Was Better, But Still Has Work to Do | NoVa Caps