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A less-than ideal start to their matchup against the New York Islanders in Long Island found the Washington Capitals in a 3-0 hole on the scoreboard and absent fourth-line center Nic Dowd. In need of a turnaround, the team received that boost from some of its veterans, most notable captain Alex Ovechkin, and rugged wingers Garnet Hathaway and Tom Wilson.
Ovechkin began the turnaround in play by delivering a monstrous hit to Isles forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau, whose smaller frame came off the boards wobbly. After a review by the officials with the NHL’s review room in Toronto, the hit was deemed a legal one and no call was made on the play.
#ALLCAPS great hit from Ovechkin on Pageau pic.twitter.com/VBsb4uj8PR
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) January 17, 2023
Just a few minutes later, Hathaway poked the puck past Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin on assists from Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson.
Garnet Hathaway lays out to poke home the loose puck, Capitals within 2!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/b53ynpZEKD
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) January 17, 2023
Wilson would add his first goal of the season on assists from Nicklas Backstrom and Dmitry Orlov to pull the visitors within one as the second frame concluded.
The improved performance by Head Coach Peter Laviolette’s club was not simply an eye test, the team’s possession numbers also improved noticeably just before and after Hathaway’s goal, an indication of the subtle momentum physicality and some puck luck can play in improving in-game morale.
Ovi hit and Garney desire seemed to turn the tides. #Caps grabbed control of possession right before Garney goal. Caps led in 5v5 shot attempts 17-13 in 2nd period. Caps lead in xGF 1.42 to .96 after 2 periods. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/jkzx78C7mW
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) January 17, 2023
Tenacious right wing T.J. Oshie would knot the game up just under seven minutes into the third, pulling the Caps and Isles into a 3-3 tie.
#ALLCAPS 3-3. OSHIE TIES IT UP pic.twitter.com/09pvHPfQqw
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) January 17, 2023
By Michael Fleetwood