It has been quite awhile Cap’s fans, 143 days to be exact since Ovi and friends faced an opponent that wasn’t wearing a Capitals sweater.
Even though this exhibition game vs the Canes didn’t count, Washington’s 3-2 victory over Carolina got the Caps off to the exact type of start that the Caps and the Cap’s fans could have hoped for in the NHL’s return to play given the long hiatus.
As much of a shock to most Alex Ovechkin didn’t even a speck of rust on him. I think I saw at least 5 onetimers from him in the first period alone. Ovi was at his office on the top left circle multiple times ripping clappers on the Canes tendy.
Personally I thought these games with no fans might be a little weird to watch and might effect the a players a little, but I forgot Ovi isn’t human he’s a machine and in typical Ovi fashion he got the Caps on the board first at 8:27 in the 1st.
Hold up wait a minute y’all thought Ovi was finished?! Nope, Ovi scored a second goal towards the end of the 2nd period from the feed of Stanley Cup Champion Tom Wilson. As if Ovi didn’t have enough he also was apart of the 3rd and final goal with an apple to Kuznetsov.
In regards to Ovi’s play Head Coach Todd Reirden stated “”I can’t say I’m totally surprised. The shape he came back in after the pause, how he has been working in practice, the energy that he has had, that doesn’t come by accident. Obviously he has a gift to be able to score goals, but he put work in. He put the work in for four months and had his personal trainer with him the entire time. It’s great to see someone like that – that puts the time and the effort in – get rewarded in those situations.”
Holtby was also on top of his game stopping 12 of 13 shots he faced before handing the duties over to rookie Vitek Vanecek who held is own in between the pipes and held his own. Which proves yet again that the Capitals is slowly becoming “Goalie U”.
Cap’s fans held their breath when Norris Trophy nominee John Carlson took an awkward fall to the left side of the goal in the 3rd. Carlson was able to get of the ice under his own power, but it was definitely a scary moment for everyone in the first game back. It seemed to be a lower body injury but Reirden didn’t seem too worried in the post game presser, which was reassuring.
The next time we see the Caps in action comes against the Tampa Bay Lighting on Monday August 3rd which will be a true test. Lets ride boys!
The Morning Skate 