Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images
The Washington Capitals downed the Winnipeg Jets, 5-2, Sunday night at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. The victory is the fourth-straight for Washington and improves the Capitals record to 14-12-4 (32 points) on the season.
The Capitals have earned 15 points in their last 10 games, which is tied for the second-most points in the NHL since Nov. 23.
Charlie Lindgren got the start in goal for the Capitals. Connor Hellebuyck got the start between the pipes for the Jets. The Capitals forward lines and defensive pairs for the 30th game of the season.
Alex Ovechkin — Dylan Strome — Conor Sheary
Sonny Milano — Evgeny Kuznetsov — T.J. Oshie
Marcus Johansson — Lars Eller — Anthony Mantha
Aliaksei Protas — Nic Dowd — Garnet Hathaway
Dmitry Orlov — John Carlson
Trevor Van Riemsdyk — Nick Jensen
Lucas Johansen — Matt Irwin
Charlie Lindgren
Hunter Shepard
Scratched: Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Joe Snively
Injured: Darcy Kuemper, Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, Carl Hagelin, Beck Malenstyn, Connor Brown.
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals and Jets skated to a scoreless first frame.
Winnipeg led in shots on goal 10-9. The Capitals led in shot attempts 15-12.
SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals finally broke the seal on the scoring with a goal from Trevor van Riemsdyk (2) at 3:25 of the middle frame. Nic Dowd (5) and Nick Jensen (11) had the helpers. van Riemsdyk is now five points shy (19g, 76a) shy of 100 career points.
The Capitals made it 2-0 on a power play goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov (4) at 8:21 of the second period. John Carlson (10) and Conor Sheary (7) had the helpers.
Lars Eller was called for a double-minor high-sticking midway through the period. During the penalty kill, Marcus Johansson was awarded a penalty shot when he was slashed on a breakaway. They play was setup by a great stretching dive by Evgeny Kuznetsov.
#ALLCAPS 3-0. MOJO PENALTY SHOT, GREAT PLAY BY KUZY ON THE PK TO GET MOJO A BREAKAWAY pic.twitter.com/Y7GO2M9DVU
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) December 12, 2022
Johansson would convert on the penalty shot. It was the first penalty shot conversion by the Capitals since 2013.
The Capitals would make it 4-0 on a goal from Lars Eller (6) at 15:24. Anthony Mantha (9) and Dmitry Orlov (9) had the helpers.
The period would end with the Capitals leading 4-0. Washington led in shots on goal 15-9 in the middle frame and led 24-19 after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Jets dented the Capitals lead just 35 seconds into the final frame. Adam Lowry (7) ended the shutout for Charlie Lindgren at 0:35. He was assisted by Josh Morrissey (26) and Morgan Barron (6).
The Jets would quickly make it 4-2. Pierre Luc-Dubois (14) would pot the second tally for the Jets at 3:29 of the final frame.
The Capitals would shut it down at that point.
Alex Ovechkin would record an empty net goal to make it 5-2.
The Capitals are back in action on Tuesday when they face the Blackhawks in Chicago. Puck drop is set for 8:30PM ET.
SHAVINGS
- Trevor van Riemsdyk scored his second goal of the season to put the Capitals ahead 1-0. van Riemsdyk is now five points shy (19g, 76a) of 100 career points.
- Dmitry Orlov, playing in his first game since Nov. 5, recorded the secondary assist on Eller’s goal. Orlov is now 10 assists shy of passing Sylvain Cote for the eighth-most assist by a defensemen in franchise history.
- Lars Eller, playing in his 900th career game, scored his sixth goal of the season to extend the Capitals’ lead to 4-0. Eller has now scored in consecutive games and has recorded five points (3g, 2a) in his last seven games.
- Alex Ovechkin scored an empty net goal to extend the Capitals’ lead to 5-2. It marks Ovechkin’s 797th career goal, leaving him three goals shy of 800 career goals and five goals shy of passing Gordie Howe (801) for second on the NHL’s all-time goals list.
- Ovechkin is on pace to score 46 goals this season. Should Ovechkin reach the 40-goal mark, it would mark his 13th career 40-goal season, passing Wayne Gretzky (12) for the most in NHL history.
- Charlie Lindgren stopped 29 of 31 shots faced against Winnipeg earning his fourth consecutive win. In his last four starts, Lindgren is 4-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage.
Where are all the “this team could never make the playoffs” folks?
I’m still here and I still doubt it. Could be wrong, have been wrong before, but I just think this team is too old, too fragile. Might get to playoffs and then flame out. That would be purgatory since they wouldn’t win any trophies nor get any high draft picks. Worst of both worlds.
I’m still here. Been a fan since the Denis Maruk days. The Caps have been impressive since the Edmonton game. Tonight’s game against Winnipeg was most impressive. The Caps really controlled the game throughout. Can’t say enough good things about the 60 minute effort. They got a few nice bounces and beat one of the best goalies in the world.
As for the playoffs, I will only say that it is a tall order. Impossible? I won’t say impossible. It’s Christmastime and anything is possible. If the goal is to win another Stanley Cup then I believe we have a lot of good drafting and trading and FA signing to do.
This team looks pretty good right now. Imagine with Willy and a healthy Backstrom.