Capitals continued their west coast road trip in the “State of Hockey” Tuesday night.
You knew it wasn’t going to be a good night when Kuemper let in two goals in a span of 4 minutes. He let in a couple soft goals specifically goal number 2 and 3 for the Wild. I’m not coming for Darcy’s neck he just had a bad game which happens in the National Hockey League. Hope he can bounce back in his next start.
The offense was non existent for the first half of the game only having two high danger chances when it was 5v5, but were able to achieve 8 high danger chances in the 3rd alone.
It was 3-0 before you got your second beverage, but when all seemed bleak the Caps were able to answer the weak goal given up.
With some nifty tic tac toe passing between Kuzy and Mantha, Mantha was there for an easy tip in to make it 3-1 in favor of Minnesota.
Joel Eriksson Ek made it 4-1 in the 3rd on a 2v1 rush who beat Kuemper with a rocket wrister.
With Kuemper still in net MJ90 got his 2nd goal of the night from a snapshot close to the right circle, definitely a goal Kuemper should have saved making it a 5-1 ballgame.
In a 5-1 game halfway through the 3rd you would think most teams would mail it in, but with a team that has TJ Oshie on it that will never happen.
With 3 minutes left and the power play about to expire Carlson snapped a shot on net and Oshie got a beautiful piece on the deflection to make it 5-2.
Oshie now has 6 goals in his last 6 games.
The Caps weren’t done yet, but too little too late. Malenstyn took the puck behind the net for a wrap around attempt which deflected off the goalie which went right to Mantha’s stick who knocked it in for his 2nd goal of the game.
I will be the first to admit when I was wrong I came for Anthony Mantha’s head early in the season for his seemed to be lack of effort, but as we stand today he is 2nd on the team in goals at 14 right behind Strome with 16.
Carbery is still playing musical lines trying to find the right fit. I still am not sure why we don’t go back to having Strome and Ovi together permanently and then mix and match the other lines because that combo has been far and above the best offensive output this season.
This should have been a very winnable game or at least closer than it was. The Caps are now 5-6 in January, but the Caps next two games are no slouches tonight against the Avalanche then against Dallas.
The Morning Skate 