Photo: X/@Capitals
The Washington Capitals had one of their slower games against the San Jose Sharks. It was a very chippy affair with not a lot of quality looks for either side. Luke Kunin gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead and it stayed like that until about two minutes into the third period, when the red-hot Dylan Strome had the equalizer two minutes into the third.
The Caps piled on the pressure late in the third and Tom Wilson earned the go-ahead tally in a net-mouth scramble, and the Capitals went on to win their third straight game, defeating the Sharks 3-1.
Here is how it went down.
PERIOD 1
It was a slow start to the game for both teams. However, the Sharks got on the board first thanks to Luke Kunin stuffing home a puck that took a bounce off the boards, giving San Jose the early lead at the 8:20 mark. The Sharks did not score a goal in two straight games prior to Kunin’s tally. Ty Emberson and Mario Ferraro had the helpers.
Drumroll, please… 🥁
We present to you a #SJSharks goal highlight‼️ pic.twitter.com/vQRAdEPJrs
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 29, 2023
The Capitals got the game’s first power play after Ferraro was called for high sticking. Washington had lots of good chances because of its movement, but Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood stood pat.
The Caps outshot the Sharks 12-10 after the first 20.
PERIOD 2
Martin Fehervary went to the locker room about a minute into the period after taking a hit. He was falling down and Tomas Hertl’s knee caught Fehervary’s head. He did return to the bench mid-way through the period.
Washington got its second power play of the game early in the middle frame. It was not as effective as the first one. The Caps could not get enough sustained zone time and they had a tough time gaining entry into the zone.
The home team once again was put on the man-advantage. Alex Ovechkin had a glorious chance on the backdoor, but Blackwood stonewalled him at the post, and the power play came up empty for the third time.
The Capitals outshot the Sharks 13-11 in the middle stanza.
PERIOD 3
Washington came out humming to start the third period and got rewarded, by none other than Strome. He fired a puck on net from the high slot with Wilson setting the screen in front of Blackwood. The puck squeaked through the five-hole and the game was knotted up at one.
Nick Jensen had the primary assist and Hardy Häman Aktell picked up his first NHL point picking up the secondary apple.
RELATED: Hardy Häman Aktell Records First NHL Point With Assist On Dylan Strome Goal
right down the middle pic.twitter.com/Ozx5V0mqyI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 29, 2023
Strome now has six goals in eight games and has tallies in three straight games.
The Capitals picked up the pace at the end of the third and fired lots of pucks on net. In a wild scramble in front of Blackwood, Wilson bounced the puck off of the San Jose netminder’s back and it found its way behind him, giving the Caps a 2-1 lead. It marked No. 43’s 300th career point.
#ALLCAPS 2-1. TOM WILSON 300TH POINT!! LETS GOOOO pic.twitter.com/bX6unepsf0
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) October 29, 2023
Evgeny Kuznetsov sealed matters with an empty net tally.
#ALLCAPS 3-1. Kuznetsov ENG! looks like he went to see his daughter after pic.twitter.com/VIJPJJdZea
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) October 29, 2023
Up Next
The Capitals won’t be back in action until Nov. 2, when they host the New York Islanders at Capital One Arena.
By Jacob Cheris
Capitals Postgame Audio
The Caps have to rally to beat what promises to be an historically bad hockey team in SJ. Not good.
The good news is that in another 6 months, the 74-75 Caps may no longer be the worst team in NHL history.
Puck luck has returned. But for how long? Question is: is it better to really stink and force the issues of age and speed on our older, slower players, or putter along as a mediocre, non-playoff also-ran?
So you’re not happy the team’s winning? I’d rather that they try as best they can, win as much as they can get away with, and upgrade from there, as needed. Instead of stinking like crap and vying for those top draft picks. This is sports, to me. Maybe I’m old-fashioned. Don’t think the problems with specific players are unbeknownst to the mgmt or coaching staff.
I remember back in the Young Guns days, when Boudreau was coach. The team was cruising to their first Presidents Trophy. They were young, they were winning, they were fun…no complaints, right? Stanley Cup around the corner, right? Some NHL player, or maybe it was a coach, can’t remember, said “they don’t play right”. And he was right. A couple of months later, Montreal made mincemeat of them.
A few wins doesn’t show me much. They’re not built well. I guess there’s a remote chance of this team pulling a surprise run, like the’ 98 version did. A VERY remote chance. Worst case scenario for the Caps is what Pitt did last year. Just miss the playoffs, and end up with a middling draft choice, who isn’t even as good as the Caps 2nd round pick.
No one says they’re built well or will go far. Mgmt had its choices to make, and here we are. As I said, I’ll be happy if they try their best, win whatever they can win, make the playoffs or not (at this moment in time in particular), draft picks whatever, as long as they show character, learn in process, and then may the road take us wherever it leads. It’s sports.
I went to and watched lots of Caps games back in the late 80s – early 90s, until our family moved out of DC, my hometown. Then kept following the Caps through all the further mediocrity. Until finally seeing some breakthroughs and the era you talk about. Gut-wrenching, every year in the playoffs) And you know what? Back when I was going to the games on the reg, the Caps never got much anywhere, but it was great seeing the effort, occasional wins against division arch rivals, and etc. Savored it all.
Now, this doesn’t mean the mgmt and coaching staff should be dumbfounded or under some illusion. The choices on what to do are theirs to make. There’s definitely a lots of screws still loose. That’s a whole ‘nuther story 🙂
Well said on all fronts Andrew. I think some fans just want to be in constant motion of trading all of the parts out. Building teams doesn’t work that way. And it is a really long and painful process.
I am happy we are winning. Sure I’d love to trade out some old piece but those old pieces are under contract and not moveable because (a) nobody wants them (Mantha) or (b) politics such as Backstrom. But as they say… if you can’t be with the one you love… love the one you’re with!
And you folks remind me of Spinal Tap rationalizing the black album cover, and 18″ Stonehenge. Trying desperately to see a light, when what you were hoping for failed to materialize.
I happen to like their farm system. There’s quality, and NHL players, in there. But at the NHL level, it’s built for mediocrity. Mediocrity is the worse thing for this system, right now. It won’t bring the 1st line center, and 1st pair D the team desperately needs.
I have to laugh at the “I remember the hard working teams of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s” line. I remember those teams too. Those were the ones who got their asses kicked by the more talented Penguins pretty much every year.
You all are too accepting of mediocrity, and that’s how Leonsis wants it. He doesn’t care. He let his Cup winning coach walk.
So go ahead, and wallow in mediocrity. Personally, I won’t accept it.
Love the Spinal Tap reference 👊
Loved Gabby and the Caps back then. When I watch sports, I want to be entertained. Win or lose, I want to have good things to talk about the next day. Could be Ovi moving every closer, could be Beck laying out a good hit, could be Willy not getting penalized. Yes, I’d like them to win it all, but I’m realistic — not every movie or tv show has a happy ending. But they can still be entertaining. Lavi was not entertaining. Gabby was. I like watching the Bears and Stingrays (and will be giving Gabby’s Cubs a view since they are on FloHockey) because there is often an enthusiasm in those games that aren’t in the more establishment, mature NHL. To me, it’s not all about winning (sorry Herm). It’s about being entertained.
I’m sure Rangers fans have been entertained by their 7-2 start under Laviolette
And they might well be. But his management of the Caps did not entertain me.