Photo: Twitter: @Capitals
The Washington Capitals fell to the New York Islanders, 2-1 in the shootout Wednesday night at Capital One Arena in the District. The loss drops the Capitals record to 34-32-9 (77 points) on the season.
STARTERS
Darcy Kuemper (21-23-0-5, 2.76 GAA, .911 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Ilya Sorokin (27-19-0-7, 2.39 GAA, .924 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Islanders:
Alex Ovechkin — Dylan Strome — Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas — Nicklas Backstrom — T.J. Oshie
Anthony Mantha — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Craig Smith
Conor Sheary — Nic Dowd — Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin — Nick Jensen
Alex Alexeyev — Trevor van Riemsdyk
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Scratches: Sonny Milano (upper body injury), Matt Irwin
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals and Islanders skated to a scoreless draw in the first frame. The Capitals led in shots on goal, 7-3. There were no power plays.
Alex Ovechkin had the Capitals best scoring chance in the first 20 minutes.
#ALLCAPS Ovechkin quick chat with TNT guy pic.twitter.com/lgDQawFWEG
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 30, 2023
Five-on-five shot attempts in the first period were tied 15-15. The Capitals worked their way back into the period following an early flurry by the Islanders. The Capitals led in scoring chances, 8-4 and xGF .46 to .25. The Islanders led the battle at the dot, 67-33%.
SECOND PERIOD
The Islanders opened the scoring early in the second period with a tally from Pierre Engvall (17) at 3:52. The Islanders’ shot drought ended at 16:57 with a shot from the right point, and then Engvall scored on the following shot. Brock Nelson (37) and Alexander Romanov (20) had the helpers.
Nelson ➡️ Engvall ➡️ 🚨 pic.twitter.com/oDoH2LyXF8
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 30, 2023
But the Capitals answered just two and half minutes later. Conor Sheary potted his 15th goal of the season at 6:22. Nic Dowd (22) and Nicolas Aube-Kubel (13) had the assists.
Conor Sheary zips the backhander past Sorokin to respond back for the Capitals, knotting it up at 1!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/fSnjtRpjFG
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) March 30, 2023
And that was it for the second period. The Capitals led in five-on-five shot attempts 20-18 in the second period and 35-33 after two periods. The Capitals led in high-danger chances, 4-2 after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals and Islanders skated to a scoreless draw in the final frame.
The Islanders led in shots on goal 15-5 in the final frame.
OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT
The three-on-three overtime period would also go scoreless, sending the game to the shootout. The Islanders would take it in the shootout.
1) Capitals: Kuznetsov: Good; Islanders: Good
2) Capitals: Oshie: No Good; Islanders: Good
3) Capitals: Backstrom: No Good
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS PERFORMANCE
SHAVINGS
- Conor Sheary scores his 15th goal of the season to tie the game 1-1. Sheary extends his point streak to four games (3g, 1a).
- Sheary’s current four-game point streak is one game shy of matching his career long of five games, which he has accomplished twice with Washington (12/23/22 – 1/3/23: 1g, 7a; 12/10/21 – 12/19/21: 2g, 4a).
- Seven of Sheary’s 15 goals this season have marked the Capitals’ opening goal in a game.
- Nicolas Aube-Kubel recorded the primary assist on Sheary’s goal, his ninth assist of the season. Aube-Kubel has recorded an assist in two-straight games.
- Nic Dowd recorded the secondary assist on Sheary’s goal, his 13th assist of the season. Dowd, who has recorded a career-high 26 points (13g, 13a) this season, has tallied three points (1g, 2a) in his last four games.
It’s been a tough year with man hours lost! Secondary scoring lacking for the most part. A team cannot relie on one goal scorer only.
I like that – “man hours lost” – you must work in the consulting business, or billable hours business 🙂
Mike Vogel wrote this morning that the Caps have now passed 400 man games lost to injury. (And I bet there are a few games TJ and Ovi played they really shouldn’t have .) The previous high was 288, that’s kind of crazy. I know people don’t like excuses but given the parity in the league there isn’t much you can do when you’re constantly hit by injuries and can’t get into a rhythm and have to overplay the guys that are healthy.
Wow, didn’t realize that. I knew it was bad, but not that bad. I also agree with your overall take re: season. This team is better than most give them credit for.
Gm sent away Johanssen who has 16 goals now and is killing it with the Wild. Also, Eller scored for Colorado in the same game. I love both those former Caps! To your point, they definitely need another 20 + goal scorer to go with OV. Oshie is incredible with 19 in this injury filled season. He was brilliant last night.
I wish we could see the Hershey kids play last 8 games.
Rumor is McMichael might get get a recall here shortly.
As I was reading game details I happened to notice that Dowd has scored 13 goals this season, and Sheary 15. How many has Kuznetsov scored…and how do we feel about that?!
Kuzy has a lot of assists, he was pretty high in team points last I checked, but yeah, I get what you’re saying. And with his paychecks…
3rd in points behind Ovechkin and Strome.
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I guess we are supposed to be hoping for losses right now, but stil….
This has been the season where clutch goalscoring for the Caps have basically been non-existent. They can win lopsided games against bad teams but if it’s a close game, it’s generally a loss, especially when it’s critical to win that close game. (I have not researched the Caps’ one goal game record but sure it’s near the bottom of the league.
I get what you’re saying. Like tonight, Oshie AND Backstrom kissing in the shootout. Again!
Oshie and Backstrom kissing? Now I know those Swedes are more enlightened about sex than we are, but shouldn’t those two get a room?
I suppose you meant “missing” and not kissing.
I watched the game earlier this week where the Islanders demolished Jersey 5-1 and the Caps definitely matched up better in their game. I thought they played well against the penguins too but then Pittsburgh got goals from two guys who never score and the Caps a turnover from Mantha who’s underlying possession number are actually very good. It’s been a weird and improbable year, whether it be bounces, injuries or shooting percentages.
Maybe we should have played Irwin instead of AA again. HCPL looking like a genius.
I haven’t seen a comprehensive playoff update for Caps prospects anywhere on this blog, so I thought I’d throw it in here:
All 5 prospects in Canadian juniors are in the playoffs, as a standalone article pointed out. Playoffs start tonight in the OHL
Hitting the books in college: Ryan Chesley’s Minnesota faces Boston University in the Frozen Four on April 6
Goalie Chase Clark’s Quinnipiac faces Michigan on April 8, but don’t look for the freshman to do anything but model a ballcap on the bench. He’s locked in as backup to junior record setting starter Yanev Perets
In Europe: Ivan Miroshnichenko’s MHL team Omskie Yastreby goes to the semifinals against SKA 1946 on April 3.Ivan is 26th in playoff scoring, with 2 + 5 in 7 games
Over in Switzerland: Tobias Geisser’s Zug EV is zugging along, going to the semifinals, after beating Raperswil. Their next series starts tomorrow night against Servette. Tobias has 1 + 3 = 4 points in 6 playoff games, good for 24th in playoff scoring
Still yodeling in the Swiss Alps, Damien Riat’s Lausanne didn’t make the playoffs
Off for some Swedish meatballs. Oskar Magnusson’s AIK fell to Malmo 4-2, with Oskar going pointless
Ludwig Person’s BIK Karlskoga was swept by Djurgarden, with Luddy being held off the scoresheet. So he is officially a “Missing Persson” (I pray he makes the NHL. I will NEVER get tired of making puns with his name)
Both Swedes play in second tier Allsvenskan, roughly equivalent to the AHL
The Bears, of course, have punched their ticket to the dance, Stingrays haven’t yet, but could soon.
And now we’re up to date
Awesome update Kim! A full post’s worth 😁
We did a piece or two on some of the above, but can I borrow a few bits for today’s “Down on the farm” segment? 🙏
Sure Jon. Also put in there that our old buddy Christian Djoos is Geisser’s teammate on Zug. Always nice to have updates on Caps alumni, especially one that contributed to the Cup win.
I may just copy it and say “From Kim RB”?
Just saw something I didn’t realize. Our old friend Christian Djoos, who has his name on the Stanley Cup, is a teammate of Geisser’s on Zug. Maybe he can whip up some of that championship magic for the Zuggers. They’ll probably need it. They’re facing the best regular season team in the Swiss league. I’ll watch this series, if my Euro streaming source has it.
I copied and pasted directly under today’s “DOWN ON THE FARM” section, with credit to You, ofcourse. It’s coming out later, no morning skate today.
I didn’t submit it to you as a full post, because I thought too much was repetitive. But I knew I had some new info, and wanted it all in one place, for easy reference, to those who are interested.
No, it’s perfect. You can reiterate because it all falls under the main focus of your topic – Prospects in the postseason.
Caps tank update:
The team is tied for 11th worst, with 77 points, which is a lottery position. The team’s we’re tied with have games in hand. Detroit is in 8th, but can tie the Caps by winning their games in hand. St. Louis and Vancouver are 9th and 10th, but can move to within one point of the Caps, by each winning the game in hand they have.
So it seems likely we’ll end up somewhere from 8th to 13th, barring an unexpected winning streak.
#tankhardforbedard
#sillyforfantilli
#losingforLinus
Linus who?
I haven’t seen a Linus anywhere in the Top 100 for the 2023 draft
Thanks Be to Clarence Campbell that this DREADFUL season is coming to an end!
Dear Hockey Gods: Please deliver to us Caps Fans a new Coaching Staff with a Clue
Coaches are expendable, so PL will be gone sometime in the near future.
But oh great and powerful hockey gods, please deliver unto your long suffering children, we Washington Capitals fans, Connor Bedard or Adam Fantilli. Or, if we lose the draft lottery, have Matvei Michkov fall unto us. I offer as sacrifice a stuffed penguin
Take Me Out To The Ballgame! Go Orioles!
Haven’t been this down on the Caps for quite some years. They can do SO much better than the pile of trash that was 22-23 Season
Would you prefer being a Columbus fan? With their luck, they’ll lose both lotteries, and end up picking third.