Our Capitals headed over to Philly Thursday night to play our division rival Flyers. As I mentioned in my previous blog this was a big game when it comes to standings.
The Caps looked great for almost the whole game till the last 3 minutes of the 3rd period.
The boys had great puck movement all night and lots of physicality including a big hit from Edmundson on our former Cap Garrett Hathaway (miss him)
After a scoreless 1st period the Flyers got on the board first in the 2nd period.
Connor McMichael got the boys on the board with some nifty moves on the door step to fool the Philly goalie to make it 1-1.
The line of McMichael, Mantha, and Protas have accounted for 7 5v5 goals over the last 8 games. Carbery might be on to something with this line because these guys are producing where we have been lacking.
Then the Capitals went on the power-play and they actually were able to score on it which has seemed like a lost art for this team of late. Tom Wilson was able to knock it in to give the Caps the lead off a rebound in-front after some quick passing by Oshie and Strome. Take a look at this highly skilled pass from Strome, Jesus that was beautiful.
Tom Wilson is now at 10 goals and on pace for around 30 if he continues to pick up the lack of goal scoring pace which the team needs improvement in.
Flyers were able to tie the game up early in the 3rd on a wraparound type attempt from Farabee.
Then our leading goal scorer brought us back to take the lead again after a broke stick shot attempt from Protas Strome took the miss and one timed it into the net. Strome now has a team leading 12th goal of the season, and has goals in two straight games and 4 goals in his last four.
Flyers knotted the game at 3 a piece with 2:59 to play where Lindgren was screened in front and couldn’t see the game timing shot attempt.
The 3v3 overtime period was fun but no real big chances on the Caps end, but Lindy did make a couple of great saves to take the game to the shootout.
The Caps weren’t able to put the biscuit in the net more than the Flyers and lose in the shootout, but Oshie did have a disgusting move that is worth seeing.
Since I mentioned we should trade McMichael he has been scorching hot on the ice especially with the confidence of his line mates even making Mantha look less like a traffic cone out there.
Kuznetsov was not out there Thursday due to illness, so let hope he’s good to go next game.
This was one of those games we need to win in regulation especially with how well they played overall, but just couldn’t hammer down the defense in the last 3 minutes.
The boys are back in action Saturday against Nashville then Carolina on Sunday.
The Morning Skate 