Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images
The Washington Capitals beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-1 Sunday evening at Capital One Arena. The win improves the Capitals record to 41-21-7 (89 points) on the season. The win is also the Capitals seventh-straight. The Capitals now hit the road for four games starting with a tilt with the Penguins in Pittsburgh Tuesday night. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.
SUMMARY
The Capitals opened the scoring with a dagger from Nicklas Backstrom at the top of the slot, but former Capital Mathieu Perreault would even things up a little less than two minutes later for a 1-1 tie at the first intermission. Carl Hagelin would score on a breakaway in the middle frame for a 2-1 Caps lead at the second intermission. Lars Eller would add an empty net goal for the 3-1 win.
STARTERS
Pheonix Copley (14-5-0-3, 3.06 GAA, .901 sv%) started between the pipes for the Capitals. Connor Hellebuyck (28-18-2, 2.99 GAA, .910 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Jets. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Backstrom-Oshie
Hagelin-Eller-Connolly
Burakovsky-Dowd-Boyd
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Jensen
Sratches: Chandler Stephenson, Dmitrij Jaskin and Christian Djoos.
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals opened the scoring with a snipe from Nicklas Backstrom at 4:35 of the first period. John Carlson (50) and Michal Kempny (17) were credited with the assists.
The Jets would answer right back. Former Capital Mathieu Perreault would notch the tying tally at 6:23.
The first period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Capitals led in shot attempts 17-9, but trailed in shots on goal 8-5. The Capitals were 0 for 0 and the Jets 0 for 2 on the power play in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would take a 2-1 lead with a power play goal from Carl Hagelin at 14:32 of the middle frame. The break away was setup by a nice backhanded feed from Nic Dowd. Hagelin was exiting the penalty box on the play.
The second period would end with the Capitals leading 2-1. The Jets outshot the Caps 15-4 for the second period and led 23-9 after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals added an empty net goal from Lars Eller late in the final frame for the 3-1 win.
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals were outshot 34-18 for the game.
- The Capitals seven consecutive wins ties a season-high.
- John Carlson recorded an assist on Backstrom’s goal. Carlson has 50 assists on the season and has recorded back-to-back 50 assist seasons to become the third defenseman in franchise history to achieve that feat (Scott Stevens: 1986-89; Larry Murphy: 1986-88).
- The NHL box score is here.
SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT
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