The Washington Capitals did not, sadly, score seven or eight goals against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. They scored just the one and therefore they lost. But at least the one was Ovi’s.
The Flames struck twice in the first period – Mark Pospisil, whose name sounds like you’re summoning a cat, indistinctly kicked the puck into the net, then Matt Coronato floated in neutral long enough to get sprung for a breakaway goal, making it 2-0 after one period. The Caps played better in the second, but had no goals to show for it, so what’s the point of even trying.
Five minutes into the third period, Alex Ovechkin scored on the power play, a one-timer but from way lower than the Ovi Spot. It was all for naught – Jonathan Huberdeau scored on a rebound.
Caps lose.
- After six soaring periods over the weekend, the first on Tuesday was a letdown. The Caps got almost doubled up in attempts and expected goals. I have a feeling the video team will have some choice clips to share at practice. When you’re scoring a billion goals, you can get fancy; when you’re getting shut out by .888 save percentage Dan Vladar, you gotta simplify.
- And by the second that’s just what they did. Well done, Spencer Carbery. The Caps spent nearly all of the middle frame in the offensive zone, forcing the Flames to block 18 pucks in that period alone. The Flames came maybe two inches from scoring on their first chance of the second, and the Caps didn’t score at all.
- Not for lack of trying. Alex Ovechkin had directed 10 attempts at the net through two periods (2 shots, 4 blocked, 4 missed). He finished with 16. An old Shattenkirk quote came to mind. He got rewarded in the third period and now sits 12 goals shy of the breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. He’s got five goals in his last five games. He’s got thirty goals this season. It’s the 19th time he’s done that. He’s 200 years old.
- A dust-up near the end of the second put the Caps on the power play, which I bet a bunch of fans were grumpy about, but Tom Wilson was clearly out for blood. It was the right call. Wish we could have seen more action between him and Rasmus Andersson.
- I don’t know if I can say the same about Mark Pspspspsl‘s indistinct kicking motion. I went to the rulebook, and I learned absolutely nothing. They just trust you know when a kicking motion is distinct or not. From rule 49.2:
A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who uses a distinct kicking motion to propel the puck into the net with his skate/foot. A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who kicks a puck that deflects into the net off any player, goalkeeper or official.
A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player’s skate who does not use a distinct kicking motion is a legitimate goal. A puck that is directed into the net by an attacking player’s skate shall be a legitimate goal as long as no distinct kicking motion is evident.
- Birthday boy Logan Thompson lost in regulation. A thing that has not happened since the Elder Days (December 17).
The first period was pretty unpleasant, so I did what I do anytime the world disappoints me: I make a spreadsheet. The Washington Capitals’ goal differential last season was minus-36, historically bad for a playoff team. This season, which has more than 20 games left, they’re just shy of plus-70. That year-over-year change in goal differential is the fourth highest for any team since 2007, behind only the 2018 Avs, the 2023 Devils, and the 2023 Kraken.
That – plus Alex Ovechkin’s crip walk into history – is why I’m not upset about this loss. The Caps played two decent periods, but they don’t have Robocop aim anymore, so an L it is.
The Caps will host the Blues on Thursday, so let’s meet up then for some more Ovi goals.
