Photo: X/@Capitals
The Washington Capitals fell to the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3 in a shootout Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center In Philadelphia, PA. Connor McMichael scored his 6th of the season, Tom Wilson added a power play tally for his 10th tally of the campaign and Dylan Strome posted his team-leading 12th goal of the season in the defeat. The loss drops the Capitals record to 14-8-4 on the season.
LINE UP
Charlie Lindgren (6-2-1, 2.34 GAA, .931 sv%) got the start in goal for the visisiting Capitals. Samuel Ersson (5-1-0, 2.80 GAA, .883 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Flyers. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas – Connor McMichael – Anthony Mantha
Joe Snively – Matthew Phillips – T.J. Oshie
Beck Malenstyn – Nic Dowd – Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Joel Edmundson – Nick Jensen
Charlie Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper
Scratches: Evgeny Kuznetsov (illness), Sonny Milano (upper body injury), Alex Alexeyev and Lucas Johansen.
Roster Moves: The Capitals placed forward Sonny Milano on injured reserve and recalled Joe Snively from AHL Hershey on Thursday morning. (More here.)
FIRST PERIOD
Capitals defenseman Joel Edmundson wasted no time in greeting Flyers and former Capitals forward Garnett Hathaway.
Garnet Hathaway takes a big hit from his former teammate Joel Edmundson. Hathaway continues to take an absolute beating this season. pic.twitter.com/ilClVk07ec
— Ryan Quigley (@ryanquigz) December 15, 2023
The first period went scoreless. The Capitals generated seven shots to the Flyers three for the period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Flyers opened the scoring with a tally from Bobby Brink (5) at the 2:14 mark of the middle frame.
Bobby Brink gets the Flyers on the board pic.twitter.com/htzTgVr1Xm
— Nasty Knuckles (@NastyKnuckles) December 15, 2023
But the Capitals quickly answered just 46 seconds later. Connor McMichael showed off his net front skills for his 6th of the season at 3:00 of the second period. Aliaksei Protas and Anthony Mantha had the helpers.
LET THIS LINE COOK pic.twitter.com/XEaN5u3WuA
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 15, 2023
McMichael’s six goals this season rank fourth on the Capitals (Dylan Strome: 11; Tom Wilson: 9; Anthony Mantha: 7).
The Capitals took their first lead of the night late in the middle stanza with a power play goal from Tom Wilson, his 10th of the season. It was Wilson’s third power play tally of the season, which is tied with Dylan Strome for team lead. Wilson has recorded seven points (6g, 1a) in his last seven games.
megged him pic.twitter.com/pWQyx9w5kD
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 15, 2023
The second period concluded with the Capitals holding on to the 2-1 lead. The Capitals led in five-on-five shot attempts 24-18 after two period.
THIRD PERIOD
The Flyers tied the game early in the final frame with a wrap around goal from Joel Farabee with 14:35 left to play in regulation.
Joel Farabee comes out of the scrum with the puck and wraps one home, knotting up the score at 2!#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/g3EkAQyMVH
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 15, 2023
The Capitals regained the lead with a tally from Dylan Strome (12) at 9:05 off the frame. Six of Strome’s goals have come in the third period of games.
The perfectly-timed stick break gets ’em every time pic.twitter.com/DBOv89cuSP
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 15, 2023
The Flyers tied the game with 2:59 remaining in regulation. The tying marker was credited to Owen Tippett.
Owen Tippett spins and scores from way downtown, tying it up at 3 for Philly!#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/55l2Z734NG
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 15, 2023
Regulation concluded with the game tied 3-3.
OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT
The three-on-three overtime period went scoreless, sending the game to the shootout.
The Flyers won it in the shootout.
1. – Washington, Oshie (Good), Philadelphia – Couturier (Good)
2. – Washington, Strome (No good), Philadelphia – Foerster (No good)
3. – Washington, Mantha (No good), Philadelphia – Brink (Good)
SHAVINGS
- The line of Connor McMichael, Anthony Mantha and Aliaksei Protas have accounted for seven five-on-five goals over Washington’s last eight games.
Caps looked tired and shagged out most of the game, then wilted down the stretch
Listening to the refs call penalties I thought we were playing Pits.
And when it comes to shootouts, the Caps have exactly TWO competent shooters and as one of them (Kuznetsov) was absent, it was a guaranteed loss.
Could have used Kuzie in the shootout. Smh.
We have this amazing ability to get into shootouts when either Kuzy or Oshie is out of the lineup
I am quickly coming to the conclusion that for as great as Charlie has been, he’s less than ideal on Shootouts. I am much more comfortable with Darcy in those situations. Sandin… Oshie gift wrapped you that goal and you threw it away. Plus the dude seemed to turn the puck over quite a bit. Oh well, at least we walk away with a point with Milano and Kuzy out on short notice. At least Oshie looks good again. And CMM and Protas are turning into total studs
I know nobodies more mad about that missed opportunity than him, but this blue line needs to score some goals. Fehervary struggled too. The top line looks like it’s getting its act together. If Ovi can just break the mold.
Capitals need to drug test Kuzie. I know it’s probably not allowed in CBA, but they need to find a way.
Stings. Especially that last goal allowed, going through Sandheim’s legs. Caps were a little offbeat late, and at times throughout the game. Positives in continuing to score, including on the PP. Could’ve won it in OT, but it didn’t go. Have to tighten up for Nashville and Carolina.
If they’re okay with Milano going on IR, that suggests Pacioretty is real close to returning. Gonna be interesting to see how he looks.
why oh why oh why is phillips still on the big boy roster?
Kuznetsov has a full-blown case of Mike Green Disease
Frequent unexcused absences, usually last-minute, forcing improvised, last-minute adjustments. Caps need better Witch Doctors. Either that or Kuzy does
The team just needs to give up, and move on, from him. 2018 Kuznetsov is not going to magically return. I have more confidence in McMike as the #1, or #2 center than him. Trade him, and go Strome, McMike, Lapierre, and Dowd. Move on from Kuznetsov, while he can still net a return.
Observations:
1. Despite knowing that beating Philly in their own barn is going to be tough, many appear shocked and disheartened when that in fact turned out to be true. Never understand that.
2. Kuzy being out and Mantha being plugged into the shootout role may both be signs that a trade involving both is imminent or at least being discussed. It’s unfortunate Mantha lost the handle and didn’t even get a shot off.
3. The game wouldn’t have even gotten to a shootout with Keumper in net (imo), so chalk up another point to Lindgren. Again, imo.
4. Anxious to see what we have in Max (soon please).
For a team that is so goal deprived I don’t think its best to trade away the guy who is 3rd on the team in goals…. let alone break up arguably the caps best line…. (imo)
I can’t believe I’m writing this but…yeah, don’t trade Mantha now. Wait till near the TDL. If the Caps are contending for a playoff spot, then you probably have to keep him. That line is working very well, good chemistry.
It is incredible how little production we are getting from blue line and the win % we have. I thought Sandin would have breakout year. If you watch replay the puck changes direction off the defender and that’s why there was no tap in, we really need some goals from the point. None of our high to low plays work. Strome almost connected on a tip. Oshie has looked noticeable the last few games. And really impressed with Protas.