Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images
While a 4-3 loss to the Metropolitan Division Rival Pittsburgh Penguins in the Capitals’ latest Super Bowl Sunday home contest left a sour taste in the mouths of the team and fans in Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby’s 75th all-time meeting, Center Lars Eller provided a bright spot in the defeat by scoring a pair of goals.
Eller, who entered the game with 11 tallies, scored his first marker 10:38 into the first period, on an assist from Richard Panik, two-thirds of a third-line that has been on a roll the last several games.
Top. Shelf. Eller. pic.twitter.com/6Qg4pgKcan
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2020
Eller’s second goal (his 13th of the 2019-20 season) came late in the game and with the Capitals down 4-2 at the 17:42 mark of the third period. Carl Hagelin and Radko Gudas were credited with assists on the goal.
No quit in this team pic.twitter.com/2g082B2kBi
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2020
Eller’s is now on pace to surpass his career-high of 18 goals set in the Capitals’ Stanley-Cup winning season of 2017-18, and is set to record a new career-best in points with 49 (20 goals, 29 assists), with his high in points also coming in 2017-18, with 38.
By Michael Fleetwood
Eller’s line should have seen more time in the final two minutes. They were dominating.
You are correct Jon.
$500/hr Future Hall of Famer Washington Capitals Head Coach Todd Reirden was egregiously out-coached by Mike Sullivan. Again.
Any examples, Day One?
Forget Reirden, I’m ready to bitchslap power play bench boss Blaine Forsythe for his piss poor power play “strategies” that involve bunching players into 3s, lame entries, and turnovers.
Reply to Jon S.:
Caps had eight REALLY stupid minor penalties to PIT 5. Disciplined NHL teams that fear their Head Coach don’t do this. The Caps have been doing it all season. No end in sight.
PIT responded to the Caps’ first goal by scoring three in a row and stealing momentum. That’s not supposed to happen in a home-game, packed house, on Super Bowl Sunday!
Thanks for the finest Caps comment site in the world, Jon S.!
I know I’m a fuddy-old loud reactionary … but I want to WIN! And the Caps are dubious this season at the top of the NHL, mucho VULNERABLE in the playoffs. I beat up the Head Coach frequently — Anybody on NovaCapsFans think that Head Coach is a potential Stanley Cup Champion Head Coach? I’d like to hear the reasoning
Ok, Day One. Penalties, yes. And he’s ultimately responsible for power play and defensive woes.