The Washington Capitals defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 in a low scoring and low-event affair. That was until overtime. Even that was not enough, but the Caps eventually earned the two points taking it in a shootout. Evgeny Kuznetsov had the shootout winner and the Capitals are now 5-0 in the second game of a back-to-back.
Darcy Kuemper stopped 27 of 28 Hurricanes shots. Here is how it went down.
PERIOD 1
There was no score in the first period. Carolina had two power plays, including having to kill off a double minor for high sticking, and the Hurricanes did not convert on either. Brady Skjei thought to have given the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead, but the goal was waved off due to goaltender interference.
Washington outshot Carolina 8-7 in the first frame.
PERIOD 2
Sebastian Aho gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead after Trevor van Riemsdyk failed to clear the puck out of the zone with 12:19 to go in the middle frame. Seth Jarvis had the lone helper.
Another Jarvy-Fishy special 👏 pic.twitter.com/UfNAFwqnUy
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) December 18, 2023
Martin Fehervary responded after some miscommunication from the Hurricanes defense left open ice for him to take. Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome had the apples. It was Fehervary’s first goal of the season with 8:27 to go.
What. A. Shot. pic.twitter.com/jHEQ1LtTAQ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 18, 2023
Shots were dead even at nine a piece.
PERIOD 3
It was a low-event third period outside of a few chances for both teams, and 60 minutes was not enough. The Hurricanes heavily outshot the Capitals 12-4.
Overtime
The Capitals had the puck for all of overtime. Connor McMichael was inches away from ending matters but Skjei was able to sweep the puck out from the goal line.
Shootout
Round 1: Aho, miss; Kuznetsov, score
Round 2: Teravainen, miss; Carlson, miss
Round 3: Jarvis, miss; Capitals win
Shavings
- Martin Fehervary scored his first goal of the season to tie the game 1-1. It marks Fehervary’s 15th career goal and his first since March 17, 2023 versus St. Louis.
- Darcy Kuemper stopped 28 of 29 shots and all three of Carolina’s shootout attempts to earn his team-leading seventh victory of the season.
- With a 2-1 shootout victory tonight against Carolina, the Capitals improve to 7-2-1 record (.750 P%) against Metro teams, which is the highest point percentage in the division. In addition, Washington is 5-0-0 in the second game of back-to-backs.
- Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his 28th career shootout goal tonight vs. Carolina. Kuznetsov’s .444 (28 goals on 63 shots) shootout conversion rate ranks first in franchise history (min. 15 shots).
- The Capitals’ 104 wins versus the Carolina/Hartford franchise are the fifth most against a single opponent in franchise history (vs. New Jersey/Colorado/Kansas City: 126 wins; vs. NY Islanders: 123 wins; vs. NY Rangers: 116 wins; vs. Pittsburgh: 106 wins).
- The Capitals have a record of 20-7-3 (.717 P%) in their last 30 road games against Carolina dating back to the 2009-10 season. Washington’s 20 road wins versus the Hurricanes are the most in the NHL over that span.
Up Next
The Capitals will return home for a brief one game slate against the New York Islanders.
By Jacob Cheris
unpopular opinion alert:
If phillips is still on this roster in January, fire HCSC and GMBM. this guy is not an nhl player.
They’ll need to make room for Pacioretty.
I like Phillips. He has limitations physically but he has great offensive skill and hockey IQ. He makes very few gaffes. I’d give him a real chance on the power play.
Yes, fire the coach and GM because you don’t like one guy.
also fire HCSC for not changing the PP and still having Ovie out there nearly the entire time. Change it or leave town bro. You were brought in to change things.
That’s crazy talk. Even with the PP issues, he still has this team massively overachieving compared to its underlying metrics. I agree double shifting Ovi is and has been an issue. My hope is once Pacioretty is healthy they’ll finally start rotating him in and out more.
i mean yea they’re just outside playoff spot with games in hand, but the old guys are worn out with even with all the extra days off between games. how worn down will 8 be in march when they are playing 3 games in 4 days regularly? needs to lighten 8’s workload NOW and change the PP NOW. To not do so is failing as a coach
STFU LOSER
thanks for refuting my facts with a logical coherent debate. Way to be a good human being.
I agree fire HCSC. Fire GMBM. Fire ACKM, and ACML. Fire Joe, Craig, Alexa, and Alan. Fire the equipment staff, and towel boys. Fire all the ushers, ticket takers, and cotton candy vendors. Fire Ted. Fire the country of Qatar. Fire fans, who have idiotic opinions. Fire Muriel Bowser. Fire L’enfant, for planning such a messed up city, on a swamp. Fire Congress. Fire the buskers outside of Capital One. Fire Capital One. Fire the Metro train drivers. Did I forget any one?
Yup, firing people will solve all of the teams problems.
thank you for your sarcastic illogical sophomoric response.
firing people for ineffectiveness is the norm. HCSC has not done what he said he’d do. we still see the same old crap game in and game out. please leave your sarcasm at the door and try to have a rational debate here.
You can’t have a logical debate, when what you wrote was illogical. The season isn’t one third over, the team is in contention for a play off spot, with games in hand, when every pundit predicted they wouldn’t come near a playoff spot. Yes, firings do happen, but very rarely after 1/3 of a season, before a coach has had time to show what he can do. Team owners and GMs are generally more patient, and have more sense than that. And your response when people reasonably state those things is to get all holier than thou, and butt hurt. Sarcasm was the only response to a snotty, illogical, whiny post.
what are you like 10? you name call and act like a total jerk. I’m disappointed in the fact that this coach is not delivering on the things he said he would. record notwithstanding this is hard to watch and while my reaction is knee-jerk, its based on being tired of watching the same crap after decades of the same crap. using phrases like “butt hurt” and “snotty” and “whiny” are typical responses from a child bruh. grow up
No clown, I watched Ace Bailey, Doug Mohns, and Hartland Monahan. You figure it out.
Name me the last NHL HC who got fired after coaching less than 40 games, with a winning record. You can’t. Because it’s a totally irrational solution. The guy has the team overachieving, and exceeding expectations, and you’re whining about him, like a teenage girl, who couldn’t get Taylor Swift tickets.
Oh, I’m sorry snowflake, the team is doing what it’s done for years, and that breaks your fragile little heart. I guess you didn’t get the memo that the team is in a transitional phase. That’s what it’s like when you retool on the fly. Everything won’t change overnight
Maybe you’re too delicate to watch NHL hockey? May I suggest women’s volleyball?
I pray for you and hope for all of humanity’s sake that you don’t breed. You’ve never met me, yet you feel the need to treat me like trash because I have an unpopular opinion. I truly hope you learn to be more considerate to people as the way you treat complete strangers on the interwebs speaks volumes about you. God bless…..
Caps still stuck in neutral. Kuemper pretty good tonight. Kuzy provided early Xmas present for fans and teammates
Go Caps!
Caps play to the level of their competition
Bolts beat the Canes team 8-2 four weeks ago. I kept saying the entire game “This is not a Canes team. Somebody stole their uniforms.” Felt the same way tonight. I think the Canes played to the level of their competition.
Whatch’all gonna say now?! 🥳🤘
Caps limp into Christmas Break. Fan base not happy with this wishy-washy Caps team that can’t score and only “shows up” every other game
WED 20 Dec is the NHL Trade Freeze for the holiday
GMBM promised “big changes” to the Top Six. He usually follows-through on promises, but not as quickly as the Fan base would like.
If NovaCapsFans had a “Wash Caps Santa Claus Wish List” we would all fill it out. All I know is that the Current 23-man roster has NO PRAYER of winning a Championship or even a Playoff round
But Thank You Marty F., Kuzy and Kuemper. You gave us a “W” we didn’t deserve
First order of business sign bear and create roster spot
This fan base never seems to disappoint. Is this caps team struggling to score goals? Yes. Are they winning hockey games? Yes. Are they in a playoff spot with games in hand? Yes. Is HCSC playing the young guys? Yes.
Let’s keep complaining about this team daily even though they have been competitive for the past 15+ years.
The fact that they got 3 points on this extremely difficult road trip is a success. Predators arguably the hottest team in the NHL right now and then immediately playing the Canes in their Barn.
Complain and say what you want but this team finds ways to win hockey games and at the end of the day that is all that matters.
What i like about this team is that they are scrappy at getting points. Have earned a fair number of close points or points they didn’t really deserve but earned anyway.
It’s clear that Snively and Phillips aren’t the answer with both getting 5 minutes tonight. That puts a lot of minutes on guys. But again, these are sub $1M guys who aren’t really full time NHLers.
Our prospects need AHL development more than NHL games right now. Really like to see some hockey trades.
The Canes fans had every right to boo the constant backing up and resetting the Caps did in 3 on 3. I was booing at my TV, and I’m a Caps fan. The NHL needs to do something about that. Perhaps make it a penalty if a team leaves the O zone during OT. I’m pretty sure 20 resets (or whatever it was) during 3 on 3 is not what the NHL had in mind, when they wanted to make OT more “exciting”.
I loved it. That was the best chance the Caps had to win the hockey game. 2 points. Do what you’ve gotta do.
No, the only chance that the Caps had to win in OT was the 2 on 1. Backing up and resetting over and over again doesn’t give you a chance to win. The opposition is wise to it, they study film, they know it’s coming. The Caps were afraid to get it in deep, to avoid an odd man rush the other way, so it was constant resets, with no real chances. It was frustrating, and boring. The NHL needs to do something about it. I’d be in favor to go back to 4 on 4. That’d do away with some of the resets.
Last season one article I read somewhere suggested turning OT into pond hockey with no blue lines, no offsides. I think it would be worth a try.
Instead of a penalty shot shootout, I’d prefer to see 2 on 1 “odd man rushes” instead.
I need to have my eyes checked. I thought the Caps won last night. After reading the comments, they must have lost 10-0 or something.
Yeah this fanbase sure loves to complain about a winning hockey team. Going into the year everyone thought this team would be struggling. Here we are coming up on holiday break and they are in a playoff spot with games in hand.
No, its not the “fanbase”. Its a vocal minority. Most aren’t like that. I can remember people ripping Larry Murphy, and making turkey calls when he touched the puck. But it wasn’t the majority. Most Caps fans knew better.
I don’t know. It was pretty loud when Murphy touched the puck. Saw many of those games. Participating in the woot woot. It was fun. But ultimately Murphy was still well respected by the fan base.
Lots of passionate opinions on NovaCapsFans.com — That’s why we’re here!
As currently constructed, the Caps are a classic “Bubble” team. Their performance oscillates wildly between Pi$$-poor and pretty good. Definitely not elite, but not terrible either
An absolute certainty is upcoming roster churn. There will be promotions, demotions, trades and other movements (probably more injuries too). Fans will suffer while Management tries to figure it out. GMBM takes a beating in Comment-land but is a shrewd poker player. I expect several positive moves before the Trade Deadline
Last night we saw evidence of GMBM doing a right thing despite his critics. Mo Mantha was on the ice, having a pretty good season for the Caps. Jake the Snake Vrana, his trade partner, was on the Springfield Thunderbirds AHL team, losing to Hershey
A few weeks back Alan May characterized the Caps’ condition like this: Caps are barely adequate as currently constructed. They need to “survive” until early 2024 when GM will fortify the roster through trades and other muscle movements. I concur
Problem is it wasn’t a one-for-one trade:Vrana for Mantha. TheCaps had to give up 1st and 2nd round picks too. And that #1 pick turned out to be Wyatt Johnston, who is Dallas’ third line center, and scored 25 goals as a 19 year old. I agree, Mantha is playing well, but that trade wasn’t worth it.
The team has some good talent in Hershey. Lapierre, Miroshnichenko, Dube, Frank, Sutter etc. It’ll be interesting to see who gets called up.
12 October 2023 editorial from a competing Caps Fan internet site:
<<>>
Gotta be careful making pre-season predictions! MP will be lucky to get18 goals his entire NHL career — if he ever gets hired again after his inevitable demotion from the Caps
12 October 2023 editorial from a competing Caps Fan internet site:
— “I don’t know about proving people wrong. There’s also a lot of people that I’d like to say I proved right,” said [Matthew] Phillips on Monday after he found out he made the team.
The people that he proved right weren’t complete strangers. At least one of them wasn’t. Phillips reunites with new assistant coach Mitch Love who was head coach of Calgary’s AHL affiliate, a place where Phillips lit it up night after night.
I predict Phillips will score 18 goals and add 15 assists for 33 points. But depending on how much he ends up playing, he could get 20 easily. —
Gotta be careful making pre-season predictions! Fellow will be lucky to get 18 goals entire NHL career — if he ever gets hired again after his inevitable demotion from the Caps
If that’s the “competing Caps fan web site” that I’m thinking of, then they are complete dingaling, with next to no hockey knowledge. Nothing but fan boys. And they do useless, fan boy articles like why does Ovechkin wear a certain hoodie, and why don’t the Xmas ornaments the Caps giveaway look like the players they’re supposed to be. Little real analysis. Sickening.
This was a difficult game for me to watch. I thought for most of the game our Caps got outplayed, but the the PK and Kuemper did a good job to get us into OT and gave us a shot to win the game. Do I like to watch the Caps consistently not be able to clear the zone? No! Do I like to watch our opponents passes going tape to tape, but ours more often than not are poorly made? No! Do I like to see OV at times seem lethargic on the ice? Hell no!! Do I like seeing TJ sitting do to injury almost as much as he is on the ice? Hell no!! But, unlike a few comments above, I don’t lay all of this at Carb’s feet. He has to play the cards he has been dealt. I wish I knew more about what goes on between our HC and the front office, but I don’t. I wish I knew more about what goes on between our HC and his staff, but I don’t. I wish I knew more about what goes on between the players and Carbs and his staff, but I don’t. I only get to watch and sometimes enjoy what I see on TV. Last night was not one of my favorite games of the year to watch, but we won. This was a SMH sort of game, but we got 2 points.
I think we are unfortunately looking at an injured OV, or the beginning of the end. I don’t say that with much comfort because he and Willy, have been my favorite Caps to follow. I just don’t know whether OV is injured, out of shape, or no longer motivated. But, something isn’t right with his play. In addition to his scoring drought, he is uncharacteristically having a difficult time just controlling the puck. If he is injured, I would prefer he take a few game pause and get healthy. If he is out of shape, I would prefer he take a pause and get into shape. If he has lost his motivation, which I hope is not the case, then that is a bigger decision. He will never break the record playing like he currently is playing.
I have tried to not be too critical of our defense, but when we struggle to clear the zone, or do get possession of the puck and constantly back track into our zone to only lose the puck, it drives me nuts! Let’s just say that I am not very comfortable with our current D pairings.
We have and are having great success at Hershey. We have too much talent there to not tap into. Yes, I understand that some of them still need AHL seasoning. But, to be honest, I liked the brief look that we got of HHA as much as half of our current D pairings. Dube, Frank, Lapierre, Miro, also have done enough to get an extended look in DC. But with the current salary allocations to the existing roster, waiver eligibility, etc., I truly do not understand the mechanics on how/when they can make those sort of moves. I’m sure that’s why Phillips is still on our roster and not playing, as well as LuJo and AA.
So, these things that have struck me, are they Carb’s fault, or the cards that he has been dealt? My guess is that it is more the later than the former.
Oh, one last thing. For the love of hockey, please get rid of the slingshot entry on the PP. I don’t see what advantage it provides and it just wastes precision time. UGH!
Such an interesting post. Some very cool observations and yet then some that make me think this is your first year watching hockey. OV being out of shape as a possibility is just such a lazy take as it is for others that say it as is he has no motivation…really…have you heard of the goal record he is going for….??? Phillps doesn’t play the same positions as LuJo or AA so, come on…
Regarding Carbs, has any coach in the league does as well as he has with as many roster issues (five 4th liners…), Caps won a game last night (in Carolina of all places) on the 2nd night of a back to back with Phillips and Snively on our 3rd line…Carbs should get positive recognition for that achievement alone.
Regarding the “slingshot entry”, like a ton of teams do it, so good luck getting rid of it. Perhaps we need players that can snipe as opposed to shoot into the goalie’s chest.
I guess I am just surprised more don’t credit the coach and gm for pulling off a remarkable season so far. And if you are one of the negative ones always about this team, you guys don’t seem to get it that you can’t have it both ways…they are winning with your crappy ahl’ers up here.
CMM is legit and likely will just get so much better and likely to be a top line center. He only has 6 goals, but you can see that he has improved so much with regard to the speed of the game.
Protas, solid for sure, but no higher than 3rd line. Ultimately you need to score more goals to not be looking over your shoulder each year for your replacement.
Mantha, sad that he has lowered our expectations of himself so much that we are so happy that he is on pace for 20 goals…(but I agree that he has been better than keeping Vrana and another good trade by gm, despite the picks as this isn’t fantasy hockey and salary caps space matters).
Snively, just can hope another team claims him when the Caps send him back down and if not that the Caps don’t bring him up again. Nothing wrong with being a career AHL player…a nice living for sure.
Phillips – repeat Snively comments.
Lets see what Frank can do.
Milano, I like the kid but ultimately he is just the best of the AHL / 4th line NHL ers that we have so many of between the two teams. Maybe he would excel if he were on a constant 3rd line all season.
Our defenseman has some issues, but their offense is way more lackluster than their defense which I guess it should be, but 3 goals via defenseman is embarrassing.
Horn, thank you for your response. I do appreciate your comment that I had some cool observations. But, let me reassure you that I have been following hockey for a very long time. I originally grew up in Maryland and have been following the Caps since their days in Landover. I’m now in Florida and in my 11th season as a season ticket holder for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. Now, I do understand that the quality of hockey that is played at basically a AA level of minor league hockey is not NHL quality. But, it does exposes us to hockey mistakes on a regular basis. So, your comment that my opinion, and that’s what it is, that OV is having issues this year is lazy, I’ll take as your opinion. But you also mentioned that I must not of heard about the goal record he is going for? Did you not read my comment that I said he will never break the record playing this way? Lastly, you mentioned that Phillips and LuJo and AA don’t play the same position. Not sure where you got the impression that I thought MP, a winger, and LuJo and AA, defensivemen, play the same position. But, you are entitled to your opinion. I guess when you read through my post, once you spotted something that you may not have agreed with, you took a LAZY look through the rest of my post. Just my opinion!
Shayna Goldman of The Athletic asks “What’s behind Alex Ovechkin’s scoring decline? Breaking down his offensive drop-off.” Basically, she says his age comes first. Then it’s the Caps’ dismal powerplay. Caps have too few options on the PP so it’s easy for opponents to focus on Ovi. “But a lack of fluid movement and too much stagnant standing in formation hurts Washington. So does the obvious strategy of trying to feed Ovechkin for his patented one-timer.” She then criticizes the players feeding him. I can’t argue with any of her points.
I still question his focus, his shape at the start of the season, and yes, if he is nursing some injury. He is older and his body doesn’t respond quite the way it used to. His sons are older and he probably is trying to spend more time with them. His father died and he may be worrying about his mother more. And Russians are not the most loved people on Earth right now — many Canadians were calling for the NHL to bar them from playing. That’s a lot of mental changes to get through much less the physical ones. That’s why I feel the Caps brain trust needs to sit down and figure out what changes are necessary to keep the drive alive. What has worked before is not working now. So, change it.
There sure is a lot going on here.
As i remind often there is a lot more to it then just playing fantasy hockey. It’s a win first league. And then a salary cap to contend with. GMBM has taken some risks and lost on some. Moving V was a good move. Panik was thought to be the steal of FA when it happened. Didn’t work out. But his last few have been very good. Strome. Milano. NAK. Aktel. Clay. Frank (AHL). Keumper. Phillips was a good low cost bet.
Then you have a new coaching (and staff) who is doing very well with contracts he has, getting youth to perform, and getting Mantha back on track.
Next is working another low cost, high reward guy (Pacioretty) into the lineup. Maybe signing Ethan Bear. Send LuJo down. Maybe another hockey trade.
Carbery getting good out of team. GMBM doing work. It may not be sexy but lots of the right things are being done.