The Washington Capitals didn’t wake up on time but managed to put the New York Rangers to bed in their Saturday afternoon matchup. New York jumped out to a hot start but couldn’t put enough past Logan Thompson to prevent Washington from working back into the game.
Believe it or not, I think this was probably their best performance in a few weeks.
- After getting out-attempted by the Rangers 26-12 at five-on-five in the first period, the Capitals got their ducks in a row in the second and third frames. While the third may have seen a bit helter-skelter, and Spencer Carbery didn’t love the period overall, statistically, it was their best. At five-on-five, they out-attempted the Rangers 15-11 and held positive differentials in scoring chances (+10) and high-danger chances (+3). They still aren’t quite there yet, though, and the Rangers are very bad.
- Alex Ovechkin scored again because, of course, he did. Ovi potted his 872nd career goal, moving 22 away from a share of the NHL’s all-time goals lead with Wayne Gretzky. After scoring his 19th goal of the season in just his 23rd game, he is also now on pace to get to the record-tying goal faster than Gretzky did. Finally, with his assist on Tom Wilson’s empty-net goal, he leaped over Ray Bourque for 12th on the league’s all-time points list.
- Connor McMichael scored against the Rangers again, giving him 17 goals this season. The 23-year-old forward had 18 goals all of last year and is on pace to record 36 markers this year at his current goal-scoring rate.
- Dylan Strome led the Capitals with three points (1g, 2a), denting the twine for the first time since December 16. Despite going a bit cold over the past few weeks, Strome is still on pace to record 93 points this season. Strome’s best work came on the power play, where Washington went 2-for-4.
- With the win and two standing points, the Capitals kept pace with the top of the Eastern Conference. After 39 games, they sit first with a 26-10-3 record, three points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs (25-13-2). They are four points up on the New Jersey Devils (24-15-3) in the Metropolitan Division with three games in hand.
- Tom Wilson kept up his recent great play, scoring his 16th goal of the season and finishing second on the Capitals in ice time (22:43). Wilson also tallied an assist, fired three shots on goal, threw five hits, and blocked one shot.
