Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals once again struggled to muster any offense in what was another important game against one of the hottest teams in the league.
“The offensive polish just wasn’t good. You can see we get pucks into certain situations and, and it looks like it’s going to be a good scenario potentially and we just can’t find a way to make that final tape-to-tape pass or that final play that will give you a good look,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said after the game.
With a 4-1 win over the Capitals, the Kraken extended their win streak to eight games and handed Washington its seventh loss over its last nine.
Here is what stood out.
Not Enough Traffic In Front; Joey Daccord The Difference
Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord was the difference in Thursday’s game. Daccord was one of the hottest goaltenders in the league coming into the district. With the victory, the Arizona State product is now 9-0-2 in his last 11 starts. The Caps just simply could not beat him whenever they had a prime scoring opportunity.
One of Daccord’s best saves came in the first period. Connor McMichael had the entire top half of the net wide open and Daccord was already down, but the Seattle netminder went to the scorpion and robbed McMichael with the pad.
JOEY DACCORD ROBBERY WITH THE PAD pic.twitter.com/EF4wfUsrGY
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 12, 2024
“I think we got chances. I just don’t think we got him moving enough. We watched some video on him beforehand and I played against him a few times last year [in Hershey],” McMichael said after the game. “When he’s square to shots, he’s pretty unbeatable. You gotta get him to move and get good traffic in front of him.”
When a goaltender is playing as well as Daccord is, taking away his sightlines becomes critical. As they have numerous times when facing a red hot netminder, the Caps failed to get bodies in front of Daccord and get to the danger areas of the ice. The Capitals had 11 high-danger scoring chances in the game. Five of which came in the third period.
“We don’t seem to generate too much when we have those long shifts where we are passing around the perimeter,” Max Pacioretty said after the game. “Too often I think when we get guys stuck on the perimeter and then you put in the mixture, you don’t get those second and third chances. So I think we kind of got to get dirty.”
Darcy Kuemper Inconsistent
The consistency woes for Darcy Kuemper continued as he once again struggled. It has been a theme since he got to Washington last year. He is either rock solid in net, bailing out the Caps time and time again, or he gives up soft goals which deflate the team. The two goals in the first period that he allowed were quite soft.
On Tye Kartye’s opening tally, the puck hit Kuemper’s body and trickled into the net. His reaction after the puck went in tells you that he would like that one back.
GO-KARTS!!! pic.twitter.com/dzvIwhL8Bv
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 12, 2024
On Alex Wennberg’s goal, which made it 2-0 Seattle, it looked like Kuemper was off his angle a little bit, which allowed Wennberg to sneak one on the far side. Ethan Bear was in front of him so that could have been a factor, but that puck is probably stopped 80% of the time.
things we love to sea: Wenny with goals in back-to-back games pic.twitter.com/w71hPbgz7v
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 12, 2024
While Washington’s offense must get going, and capitalize on those Grade-A chances it had in the first few minutes of the first period, Kuemper needs to be better and more consistent.
New Top Line Fun; Max Pacioretty Getting Better
After being put together briefly against the Los Angeles Kings, the new top line of Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome and Max Pacioretty got on the scoresheet again. The lone goal for the Caps came from that line and this time it was Pacioretty potting one home. It was his first goal as a Capital and first tally since Jan. 10, 2023.
SUPER MAX
Max Pacioretty has his first goal with the @Capitals! pic.twitter.com/kPy1Hjk116
— NHL (@NHL) January 12, 2024
“It’s huge. Everyone knows what or has heard or should take a look at what he said the other night,” T.J. Oshie said. “I’ve seen [Pacioretty] play, I played against him a lot, played with him a little bit. He’s a phenomenal player and someone that is very, very elite when it comes to offense.”
Pacioretty had been recovering from his second Achilles tear and has progressively gotten better with each game.
“Tonight was the first night where I felt like I was able to make some plays,” Pacioretty said. “And I know it’s not enough because we didn’t win the game, but I’m just looking to get better every game and I’ve done that so far.”
Meanwhile, Ovechkin got the primary assist on the goal, which extended his point streak to seven games. The trio led all line combos with 10 scoring chances at five-on-five, three of which were high-danger, and had six shots on goal.
It will be interesting to see whether this line sticks together when Tom Wilson returns from his injury, but this line was very fun to watch.
Notable Numbers And Observations
- The Capitals seemed to struggle with their clears tonight and breakouts. Lots of blind passes up the middle especially in the first period
- Washington had a strong push to begin the third, but Daccord stood on his head.
- Martin Fehervary had a really rough night. He was a -3.
- The Caps outshot the Kraken 26-23
- Washington had 14 giveaways and nine takeaways.
The Capitals will conclude their season-long homestand with a home-and-home series against the New York Rangers on Saturday, Jan. 13.
By Jacob Cheris
Didn’t Ovi have the primary assist on Patches’ goal?
Yep
His point streak now at 6 games (2+5), not 5 🙂
The story said that.
I write off the Caps 23-24 season as a loss. Why not? It’s been a whole half-season of “Trust me.” “Trust me.” “I’ve got the answers and it’s all under control.” Well: Fool Me Three Times Shame On Me. The Summer of 23 Boo Birds were right. Caps Brass and Management and Coaching really does have NO CLUE. Their “tactics” and “strategies” have all failed, and the Caps $ukk
This Caps coach is gonna be a good one and he has a very good staff and they are perfect for the transition that has and will be taking place for the next few years. You are looking ‘small picture’ but this staff is there for the big picture/long haul. He has been given a very limited roster both offensively and defensively. It would be best to keep your hopes low because the only good thing this year will bring is another high draft pick, but I like the fact that what you are calling a failing front office and coaching staff, I see as a way to move on from the vets one by one and end up in two or three years as a pretty talented and young up and coming team. And provided they draft well with these high draft picks, makes for an exciting future, I believe.
They need to get rid of Muller. Let’s hope he’s one and done.
great coach for sure. he has done wonders for Power play and Ovi. Additionally 15 games in he was still talking about them needing to learn the system.
Farcy Kuemper should give back contract money.
The team has trouble any time the opponent sends heavy forecheck pressure. I’m sure every team knows to do that now.
They should move Patches to the LW on the CMM-Mantha line once Wilson comes back, but let Patches get some minutes with Ovi each game, then make Protas the 3C with Oshie and move Kuz to LW on that line, or make Milano the LW on that line when he comes back. I know they won’t do that, but I think those would be the most optimal lines for the team at this point. Something ahs to shake. The CMM line has gone a little cold as of late, and Protas has demonstrated himself to be a much better facilitator than almost anyone on the team. He deserves a shot at Center.
I believe Sat 1pm game is on ABC, Sun 1pm on Ted’s network.
Talk about a dud: Recently cut Washington Wizards point guard Ryan Rollins has been charged with seven counts of petit larceny. Fox 5 DC reported Rollins is being accused of shoplifting from a Target in Alexandria, Virginia, multiple times.
Documents filed in an Alexandria General District Court alleged Rollins stole items such as candles, body wash, and groceries. Rollins had a base salary of $1.7 million at the time of his alleged thefts.
Can take the kid out of the ghetto but cant take the thug out of the kid. Watch he will get off with probation and be back dribbling before the ink is dry on the parerwork at the court house.