Photo:X/@Capitals
The Washington Capitals came away with their guttiest win of the season. It was low scoring, the Caps were down missing some key players and it was in the second half of a back-to-back. Similar to their 3-2 win over the New York Islanders on Wednesday, Washington had a 2-1 lead with about seven minutes to go in regulation. But Yegor Chinakhov tied the game at two off a failed clear.
The Caps were running on fumes in the second half of the game and the Blue Jackets almost ended matters in the dying seconds of regulation, but Charlie Lindgren stood tall and forced overtime.
The pivotal moment in the game came at the 2:18 mark of overtime, when Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlinkins punched Tom Wilson after he was shoved into the crease and that put the Caps to their third power-play of the game. Then, a 38-year-old winger ended matters with an important goal to give Washington the extra point.
“This one was right up there with the most challenging that we’ve had this year. You could just tell in that third period, and we talked about it. We knew what was coming, we had just been in the situation last night [against New York] and we had nothing in the tank, physically and mentally,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said after the game. “So we were just trying to find a way to hang on and got our way through that third period… but just do enough as a group to be able to get that game to overtime.”
Washington is now 6-0 in the second half of a back-to-back and has won three straight. The Capitals have also swept the season set with the Jackets.
Here is what stood out.
Alex Ovechkin Finally Ends Drought; Power Play Converting
In the words of Capitals’ play-by-play broadcaster, Joe Beninati, “The great wait, is over.” Alex Ovechkin’s longest goal drought of his career is finally over, and it could not have come at a better time. The Capitals captain has been due for one for the last three games.
“[I had some] pretty good chances in the first and the second [period] obviously as well. But sometimes you just have to keep pushing and keep grinding,” Ovechkin said. “Happy those go in and I hope it’s gonna be right away for me.”
Ovechkin ended his 14-game drought with his sixth goal of the season, 26th overtime goal, his 828th of his career and his 301st power-play goal. Meanwhile, he also scored his 900th career goal (828 regular-season goals and 72 playoff goals), joining Wayne Gretzky to become the second player to reach that mark.
Alex Ovechkin scored his 135th NHL game-winning goal (regular season & playoffs) for the @Capitals and passed Brett Hull for the second most in NHL history, behind only Jaromir Jagr (151).#NHLStats: https://t.co/mWXQKIDH5k pic.twitter.com/QRadvpssaM
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 22, 2023
His best chance of the game came on Washington’s second power play of the game, where he hit the post with a wrist shot from the point. He had eight shot attempts on the power play and had seven shots on goal.
#ALLCAPS Ovi onetimer off the post pic.twitter.com/uhDEvar1nz
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) December 22, 2023
Speaking of the power play, it now has goals in four out of its last five games. It is still the worst in the league, but there were some different looks during the man-advantage. On the Caps’ second power play of the game, they had the puck in the offensive zone for pretty much the entire two minutes.
“I think we realize how we have to play. We were struggling and we were not sharp enough. We don’t put the puck in the net, we don’t move the puck well, and you can see when we move the puck, when we move our bodies, we find the rebounds and we control the puck, it helps,” Ovechkin said.
Washington had 10 shots on goal on the man-advantage.
The AA Team
Anthony Mantha and Aliaksei Protas continue to have outstanding chemistry. Mantha had two goals and Protas had another assist to his name. Both players are playing at a high level because of Washington’s bench boss. Though Connor McMichael, who typically centers the line, was scratched due to illness, Hendrix Lapierre fit in seamlessly.
“Just being at the right place at the right time and making those plays. Tonight was maybe not the easiest game for our line, but we made it happen,” Mantha said. “We got a second goal for a team and it’s kind of a momentum shift at that point, and you just need to keep working.”
Mantha’s line has been the most consistent line out of any trio put together. Along with Mantha having a breakout year, his towering Belarus linemate continues to impress. Protas tied his career high in points with an assist on Mantha’s goal. He has been playing terrific hockey and has found terrific chemistry with Mantha.
“I’ve really liked his progression this year. He started the year just sort of playing like seven, eight minutes. He was inconsistent and now he’s one of our most consistent forwards,” Carbery said. “He competes. He moves his feet. He makes the right plays; his wall touches are usually spot on. The consistency in his game has really excelled quickly.”
Struggling Breakouts Due to Fatigue
One thing Washington really struggled with was its breakouts. The Caps had a very difficult time getting pucks out of the zone and this led to extended time in the defensive zone. They really started to struggle in this aspect in the third period. Lindgren could only bail his team for so long.
“That’s what I noticed the most is the physical part of it. Not being able to forecheck, not being able to skate, not being able to gap up. But you saw the puck play, like the mental mistakes that we started making, the icings, the different uncharacteristic play with the puck. Which isn’t a play, it’s your brain,” Carbery said. “You’re so tired that you can’t even make the plays that normally we make with ease, and that’s where you really saw that we just had nothing in the tank.”
Columbus had nine scoring chances at five-on-five, four of which were high-danger in the third period. It has 12 high-danger chances in the game. The Blue Jackets started to move up ice as a five-man unit and the Caps had a very tough time containing that and evading their forecheck.
Notable Numbers and Observations
- The Caps had nine high-danger chances
- The Blue Jackets blocked 21 shots
- John Carlson looks more confident with his playmaking. He is one point away from 500
- Charlie Lindgren was once again spectacular with 34 saves
- The Blue Jackets outshot the Caps 16-11 in the second period.
The Caps will look to extend their win streak to four games when they take on the high-flying Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, Dec. 23 before heading into the holiday weekend.
By Jacob Cheris