The Washington Capitals finished their west coast adventure with a decisive win over the San Jose Sharks, but one with oddly hot tempers.
Dylan Strome was the first of three scorers in the first period, assisted by selfless humanitarian Alex Ovechkin. Ten minutes later came Aliaksei Protas, backhanding for his 29th of the season. Finally was Taylor Raddysh, so I guess they’re letting anyone score in this one.
After an eventful second period in which none of the events were goals, Macklin Celebrini got gifted one in the third. Trevor van Riemsdyk scored one shift later, his first goal since the early 90s. Alex Ovechkin’s tip-in made it 5-1.
Caps win!
Tonight we dance.
- The Caps scored thrice in the first period. Caps PR did the hard work for me, letting us know that’s the fifth time this season they’ve opened a game that way.
- That three-goal period chased Alex Georgiev from net and welcomed Georgi Romanov. I had a tasteless bit about Romanovs faring poorly against soviets, but better judgment got the best of me. Alex Ovechkin had a mostly quiet day until deflecting Martin Fehervary’s shot. Romanov is added to The List, and Ovechkin is eight away.
- I love that Aliaksei Protas scored on the shift after a Caps power play, on which he did not play. In any case, Protas’ next goal will be his 30th.
- Some people thought what Rasmus Sandin did to William Eklund in the second period wasn’t interference. It was. The officials called it. They even wrote it down. That’s literally the definition of a penalty. You’re in denial if you think that wasn’t a penalty. There was even a penalty kill. You don’t have to kill a penalty if there’s no penalty. What is wrong with you?
- Game management was attempted, and it failed. That ‘penalty’ was the most sane thing to happen in the middle frame. Zack Ostapchuk got obstreperous against Tom Wilson, whose face is still sore, incurring wrath. Then Brandon Duhaime fought Noah Gregor Clegane, then Jakob Chychrun bum-rushed Vincent Desharnais. Wildly out of pocket period.
- And I guess it impacted the Caps early in the third. They were outshot six attempts to one when Ovechkin served a turnover to Macklin Celebrini, who got his learners permit last week. Good for him. Oh, the places you’ll go.
- Trevor van Riemsdyk scored for the first time in more than two years. It was perfect: a below-the-goal-line bankshot that no one noticed had gone in until he – elatedly – pointed it out.
- First solid win for Logan Thompson in a couple weeks. Happy to see him back above .900.
Surprisingly intense. Where did the hate with the Sharks come from? They are infants. They think RDR2 is a classic video game.
Anyway, after five days in Cali, the Caps return home with no more long road trips left on the schedule. We’re entering the stretch. Just a couple items left on the to-do list. You know what they are.
