Takeaways From The Capitals 3-2 Overtime Victory Over The Islanders: “Late Game” Strome Takes Us Home…Again

Photo: X/@Capitals

The Washington Capitals played their second straight low-scoring game and the second time in three nights that the game required extra time.

The Capitals have played in a lot of these low-scoring affairs as of late and have been able to squeeze out two points. However, Wednesday’s contest felt different.

“We haven’t been in a lot of these where I felt like our game was in a good spot, felt really good about our first two periods, did a lot of good things,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said. “We talked about it in between the second and third, like this team is not going to go away and just ride off into the sunset and we are not going to backpedal into a win here. They are going to push.”

That push was displayed right from the drop of the puck in the third period. The Caps made a lot of mistakes defensively and Anders Lee eventually tied things at two after a defensive zone turnover. Washington failed to connect on numerous passes and allowed 16 shots in the third period alone.

But Dylan Strome capped things off in overtime on the power play, giving the Caps a 3-2 win.

Eight of Strome’s 13 goals this season have come in the third period or overtime, the most on Washington.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 21, 2023

“We may not score the most goals right now or this season so far, but we’re finding ways to win tight games. I think it’s a good look on us when we can win, you know, these 2-1, 3-2, 1-0 type games,” Strome said. “I know we have a pretty good record if we score over two goals in regulation, so we should probably try to do that a little bit.”

Here is what stood out.

Hendrix Lapierre Steps Up; Ivan Miroshnichenko Makes Impact

Prior to the game, it was announced that Connor McMichael would be a scratch due to an illness. Hendrix Lapierre was originally slated to play on the wing with Evgney Kuznetsov and Ivan Miroshnichenko, but he took McMichael’s place at the third line center spot and left his mark big time.

Lapierre was called up with Miroshnichenko and he took most of the spotlight because it was his NHL debut.

But the Quebec native gave a good case to the coaching staff that he belongs in Washington. The 21-year-old winger had his second career multipoint game with the game’s opening tally and the secondary apple on Joel Edmundson’s goal.

Lappy welcoming himself back quite nicely pic.twitter.com/fsXn8e0fq5

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2023

Miroshnichenko was pretty solid in his first NHL game. In 10:14 worth of ice time, the 19-year-old Russian had two shots on goal on five attempts. Outside of his incredible release, what stood out about the 2022 first-round pick was his 200-foot game.

He was very positionally sound defensively, taking away the points and finishing his checks. Miroshnichenko had three hits which tied Tom Wilson for the team lead.

“I liked his game and there was a sequence late in the game where it was 2-2, and he had to defend a scenario that sometimes is tricky for wingers, and he had it dialed,” Carbery said. “He didn’t get beat in the situation, he was right on coverage, and so that tells me that he, in a conversation we had this morning, is dialed in and knew exactly how we play that situation and did it to a tee.”

Miroshnichenko’s best chance of the game came on a two-on-one odd-man rush with Matthew Phillips. He was well behind the play but ended up using his powerful stride to get to the net, but the puck just bounced over his blade.

Collapsing the Middle; Darcy Kuemper Continues Upward Trend

One of the things Carbery talked about after Wednesday’s morning skate was the fact that the Caps had to focus on taking away the middle of the ice and protecting the house. The Islanders are one of the best teams in the NHL at crashing the net and getting goals on tip ins and rebounds.

For the most part, Washington did a solid job of protecting home plate in front of Darcy Kuemper, who made 30 saves and earned his second straight win. However, it was not until the third period where the Capitals started to break down, allowing six high-danger scoring chances. The Capitals netminder was also solid in his own right.

“Just going back to playing my game and I’m feeling pretty comfortable in there,” Kuemper said. “The guys are obviously doing a great job. Like tonight, that’s a heavy net front team and they did a great job letting me see it which helps me just to go out there and play my game.”

Eddy Bomb

Edmundson had his best game as a Cap on both ends of the puck. Following his second period blast, which gave Washington a 2-1 lead, the veteran defenseman spoke with Monumental Sports Network’s Al Koken in between periods. He said that for the first 10 games or so since he returned to the lineup, he felt a little bit slow. But he has since found his footing.

#ALLCAPS Joel Edmundson intermission interview pic.twitter.com/x3Ik9GwaKu

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) December 21, 2023

The towering 6-foot-5, 221-pound rearguard was terrific with his stick and reads in the defensive zone. With his goal, Edmundson becomes the fourth Capitals defenseman to score a goal. It was also the second time in as many games a blueliner has got on the scoresheet.

“That was awesome. Heavy shot. Just got into the net, good screen in front and he put it in a perfect spot where it’s tough on the goalie,” Trevor van Riemsdyk said. “It’s important to get contributions from up and down the lineup and have that attack be a five-man attack, not just forwards.”

Notable Numbers and Observations

Beck Malenstyn led the team with three high-danger scoring chances at 5v5
Both teams were dead even at 50% on the draw
Washington had 10 giveaways compared to New York’s 3
Islanders had 13 high danger scoring chances. Capitals had 10
Washington blocked 17 shots
The Capitals had 10 takeaways
Matthew Phillips had a solid night. He was going after pucks and making a lot of smart plays