While most of you were watching Sunday Night Football, the Washington Capitals were in Sin City taking care of business!
Not only did they take care of business, but it was on the back of their Captain The Gr8 getting a hattrick of his own!
Through the beginning of the 1st the Caps went on the power-play off a tripping call, and they capitalized on the opportunity to get the scoring started where Carlson fed Ovi from his office but it wasn’t a one timer this time. This time it was a quick low snap shot that gave the Caps a 1-0 lead.
Alex’s 864 career goal was his 11th on the season and he now has 9 goals in his last 10 games. This goal was scored against former Cap Ilya Samsonov making it the 177th different goalie Ovi has scored on. He now ties Patrick Marleau for most goalies scored on. He only trails Jaromir Jager who scored on 178 goalies. So look for Ovi to break another record soon.
Then halfway through the 1st the Caps got back on the board again to lengthen the lead via a late crashing Jakob Chychrun in between the circles who ripped a rocket pass Sammy to make it 2-0 Caps.
Chychrun’s 5 goals is tied for second most among NHL defensemen.
The shutout would not last the 1st period as in the waning seconds a wide shot deflected off the end boards directly to a crashing Brett Howden who snuck it past LT to shorten the lead back to 1 going into the intermission.
Then early in the 2nd Protas found a wide open Jake the snake who whipped a wicked wrister top cheese to give the Caps a 3-1 lead.
Oh you thought Ovi was only a goal scorer well he also plays goalie sometimes. what can’t he do!
Unfortunately it only held off the inevitable. During a delayed penalty call against the Caps, Eichel had a nasty toe drag into a shot that left a juicy rebound of LT that was then cleaned up and finished by Keegan Kolesar bringing the Knights back with one 3-2 Caps.
Then with around 2ish minuets left in the 2nd Ovi on a 2v1 chance chooses to take it himself and rip a vintage Ovi wrister to make it 4-2 Caps.
Ovi’s second of the night (865) marks his 3rd multi-goal game of the season and his 176th of his career. Only the Great One has more which he has 189 multi goal games.
If you thought Ovi was satisfied with only two goals think again! When there is an empty net you know Ovi will be on the ice for at least one shift so he has a chance to seal the game and he did just that.
With goal 866 Ovi and his 31st career hat trick, he is now only 29 goals away from passing the Great One. It would be crazy if he found a way to did it this season, but if there is anyone crazy enough to do it, it’s the Gr8 One!
Aside from Ovi being Ovi it has been great to see Vrana playing great, he has goals in two straight games and hopefully he can keep his spirits up and contribute the whole season cause he still has big game speed and potential, especially having him on the same as a familiar face in that of Lars Eller.
The boys have been playing great defense as of late as well which was a disaster last season and would love to see the stats comparison from this time last year because I feel like we have triple the amount of goals compared to this time last year.
As I mentioned previously our 3rd line had been our kryptonite and the re-addition of Eller to that line has already provided some structure.
Also, can’t reiterate how awesome it is that we have a solid goalie in LT dude is legit can’t believe Vegas didn’t pay the boy.
The Capitals are back in action tomorrow in Utah to play the Mormons….. I mean the Coyotes…….I mean the ………. hockey team.
The Morning Skate 