The Washington Capitals held an optional skate Wednesday afternoon at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, following their 4-2 game 1 victory over the Panthers Tuesday night. Game 2 is set for Thursday night before the series moves to Washington for games 3 and 4 on Saturday afternoon and Monday night.
Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette met with the media following the team’s optional skate. He said that forward Tom Wilson is receiving treatment today and will be a game-time decision for game 2.
Tom Wilson (lower body) is getting treatment today and will be a game time decision tomorrow, Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said today.
John Carlson is fine after taking hit from Sam Bennett late in game last nights
Optional practice for Capitals today.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 4, 2022
Laviolette also said that John Carlson is fine. Carlson received a late hit from Panthers forward Sam Bennett in the waning seconds of game 1 and left the ice.
A high, late frustration hit
Have to imagine Sam Bennett will get a call from @NHLPlayerSafety
Hopefully John Carlson is okaypic.twitter.com/3ookEOZbeJ
— Jackson Didlake (@diidlake) May 4, 2022
Carlson appeared relatively unscathed following the game when he received the team’s shield award for the game’s best defensive player.
Caps-Cats
The Capitals began the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday night with a 4-2 victory over the Florida Panthers behind a 30-save performance from goaltender Vitek Vanecek. Washington improved to 27-20 in Game 1s in franchise history and 10-8 when starting a series on the road.
Osh Babe
T.J. Oshie scored the winning goal as the Capitals rallied past the Panthers, which marked Washington’s first third-period comeback win in the playoffs since its Stanley Cup-clinching victory in Game 5 of the 2018 Final over the Vegas Golden Knights. Oshie’s six career game-winning goals in the postseason trail only Alex Ovechkin (10) and Nicklas Backstrom (7) for the most in franchise history.
The majesty. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ianBln4jlh
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) May 4, 2022
Since joining Washington in 2015, Oshie has recorded 53 points (24g, 29a) in 67 playoff games, including 21 points (8g, 13a) in 24 games en route to the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. Oshie’s 0.79 playoff points per game is tied for 15th in the NHL among forward with at least 60 playoff games played during that span.
Decent news on the injury front, I suppose.
good to hear, but Bennett better keep his head on a swivel. Late, high hit like that at the end of the game? Listen to the bells, Bennett—-they’re tolling for thee. Caps will choose the time and place and like a mafia hit, you won’t know when it’s coming. 😡