Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images
The Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils, 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Capital One Arena. Trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Capitals rallied with two goals from T.J. Oshie and scores from John Carlson and Alex Ovechkin for the 4-3 victory. The win improves the Capitals record to 9-5-3 (21 points) on the season and moves them into second place, one point behind the Boston Bruins in the East Division.
STATS
STARTERS
Craig Anderson (0-1-0, 5.27 GAA, 5.27 sv%) started between the pipes for the Capitals. Arron Dell (0-0-, 0.00 GAA, 0.00 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Devils. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Scratches: Jonas Siegenthaler, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Daniel Sprong
FIRST PERIOD
The Devils struck first with a power play goal from Andreas Johnsson (3) at 9:35 of the first frame.
Andreas Johnsson scores on the PP! The #NJDevils take a 1-0 lead in the 1st pic.twitter.com/nRPhOCLhfI
— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (@SiriusXMNHL) February 21, 2021
The first period would end with the Devils holding on to the 1-0 lead.
The Capitals led in shot attempts 20-15 and led in shots on goal 11-10. Capitals led in scoring chances 9-7. The Devils were 1 for 1 and the Capitals 0 for 1 on the power play in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Devils would extend their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Jack Hughes (4) at 3.55 of the second period.
We’ll say it again.
JACK HUGHES IS GOING TO BE A STAR IN THIS LEAGUE. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/oE9RTFh9dq
— #NHLOutdoors on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 21, 2021
The Capital would finally get on the scoreboard with a goal from T.J. Oshie (3) at 13:38 of the middle frame. John Carlson (9) and Nicklas Backstrom (13) were credited with the helpers.
Tip drill 101 pic.twitter.com/dZnOLTcF2t
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 21, 2021
The period would conclude with the Devils holding onto a 2-1 lead. The Capitals led in shot attempts 21-19 for the middle frame and 41-34 after two periods. The Capitals led in shots on goal 15-5 for the second period and 26-15 after two periods. Both teams were 1 for 2 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.
THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would tie the game with a goal from John Carlson (5) at 9:16 of the final frame. Brenden Dillon (5) and Jakub Vrana (6) had the assists.
Johnny B. CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/j21qhv7j1t
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 21, 2021
The Capitals would grab their first lead with a power play goal from T.J. Oshie (4) at 11:53, to make it 3-2, Caps. Evgeny Kuznetsov (3) and Lars Eller (5) had the helpers.
That’ll be ✌️ donuts for Oshbabe, plz pic.twitter.com/Iu0DPb2x1l
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 21, 2021
Alex Ovechkin would add a power play goal at 16:56 to make it 4-2. T.J. OShie (8) and Nicklas Backstrom (14) had the assists.
A BEAUTY 😍 pic.twitter.com/RkKIKC2pY2
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 21, 2021
The Devils would add a goal with 11 seconds remaining to make it 4-3, the final.
The Capitals are back in action on Tuesday when the host the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first game of a two-game set.
NOTES
- Capitals led in shot attempts 56-49 and shots on goal 41-25.
- The Capitals led in scoring chances 21-16 (56.76 SCF%).
- Capitals ended the game with a xGF% of 61.4%.
- Capitals won the faceoff battle 54-46%.
- The Devils were 1 for 3 and the Capitals 3 for 4 on the power play.
SHAVINGS
- Oshie’s three power play goals this season are tied with Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson for the team lead. Since joining Washington in 2015-16, Oshie’s 46 power play goals are the second-most on the Capitals (Alex Ovechkin: 85).
- With an assist on Oshie’s goal, John Carlson is now nine points shy of his 500th career point (109g, 382a).
- Nicklas Backstrom recorded his second assist of the game, making him two shy of the 700 assist mark.
- Alex Ovechkin gives the Caps a 4-2 lead with a power play goal, his 712th goal, six goals shy of passing Phil Esposito (717g) for the sixth-most goals in NHL history.
- This is Ovechkin’s first goal scored against Aaron Dell. Ovechkin has scored against 145 different NHL goaltenders. There have been 6,460 players in NHL history who have scored 145 or fewer goals in their career.
- Over his last four games, Lars Eller has won 27 of his 44 faceoffs taken (61.4%).
- Nic Dowd has won 33 of his 48 faceoffs taken (68.8%) over his last four games, including 14 of his 17 draws (82%) taken today against the Devils.
- John Carlson has recorded 14 (5g, 9a) points in 17 games this season, which ranks tied for eighth in the NHL among defensemen and his 0.82 points per game rate ranks tied for sixth.
- The Capitals’ three power plays goals scored against New Jersey is a single-game high this season (previously 2 PPG, Jan. 28 vs. NYI; Jan. 24 vs. BUF).
- Anderson’s first start as a Capital also marked his 650th career NHL game, the eighth-most among active goaltenders and the 39th-most all-time.
- The Capitals’ win against New Jersey marked their first win this season when trailing after two periods (1-3-0).
By Jon Sorensen
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