Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Despite the Washington Capitals coming out and laying an egg for the second straight game last night, there were some positive moments. Granted 95% of those moments were authored by Matt Hendricks, but dammit they were there if you looked really closely.

For example, let’s examine a rush up the ice by Alex Ovechkin in the third period. The Russian Machine, who finished with an assist and four shots, did not score a goal for the second straight game, but he sure did have the sickest move on the night.

GIF by welshhockeyfan

As Ovechkin picks up a loose puck at center ice and turns on the jets, Winnipeg defenseman Ron Hainsey decides to go for a poke check. Wrong move. Ovi cradles the puck backwards, and then tosses the puck through Hainsey’s legs, making the veteran defenseman look silly for playing him so aggressively. As ooh’s and ahhh’s rained down from Verizon Center, Ovechkin kept skating hard, eventually unleashing a blistering wrist shot that almost went in.

The best part of play was that Ovechkin’s dangle led to a slashing penalty being called on Olli Jokinen.

Sure, the Capitals have a lot of issues, especially early on with special teams and team defense. But they still have one of the greatest players in the league, impatiently waiting to break out.