Sad Devils, happy Mojo (Photo: Patrick McDermott)
A game against the New Jersey Devils is supposed to be a subdued, low-scoring slough. Instead, the Washington Capitals came out hot, withstood an assault, and then came back even hotter. This team is really good.
Alex Ovechkin needed just half a minute to get on the scoresheet, wristing a rebounder for his fifth goal of the season. The Devils mostly owned that period thanks to two goals by youngblood Damon Severson (both heavily screened), but another newbie, Chris Brown, got one of his own for the Caps.
Marcus Johansson scored during even strength in the second period, which is baffling to me. Nick Backstrom deflected a muffin from Matt Niskanen to put the Devils in a two-goal hole early in the third. The Twins made that even deeper when Joel Ward banked a shot hard off the back boards, then off Cory Schneider’s skates, nothing but net. And then Burakovsky extended his ridiculous goal-scoring streak on the power play.
Caps beat Devils 6-2!
Bullets in a second, but first, glove kisssssssss via @myregularface!
- Next time you’re sad, just think of Joel Ward‘s stupid stupid goal and smile.
- Braden Holtby got scored on twice in the first period, both by a kid playing his 4th NHL game, and both times thoroughly screened by Caps sweaters. On all the shots that were visible, Holtby was positively transcendental. Check out the highlights.
- Eric Fehr, hoisted from his spot on the top line, did a stellar job on the third betwixt Ward and Chimera. That line had the best puck possession this evening, partially due to Fehr and partially due to not facing the mean Devils opposition that the top six saw.
- The top line could have used some of Fehr’s oomph. They were less stellar, but good enough for Alex Ovechkin to get another even-strength goal, plus one for Backy in the third. The new top-line winger, Troy Brouwer, deserves credit for carrying the water on the Ovi goal, though I’d rather see Fehr there.
- Those are all happy bullets, but the Devils largely outplayed the Capitals through the first 30 minutes of this one. Three out of the 4 lines were underwater in shot-attempt differential, and the Devils blue line seemed to have an answer for the few attacks the Caps could martial. Then the Caps took over and wrecked shop.
- I don’t even know how to talk to the Caps beat writers anymore:
Second-intermission topic of discussion: "Amber" is 311's only redeeming song. Discuss.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) October 17, 2014
- Marty Havlat‘s face merged with a ref’s shoulder or Jason Chimera’s elbow or some plexiglass or something. Whatever it hit, it began to leak. If you can stomach it, take a look here. That’s either his mouthguard hanging down or he’s gonna need some Operation Smile help. (That’s a joke; Operation Smile is a great charity.)
- Eric Fehr was effing ridiculous– drawing penalties, dominating the offensive zone, outshooting New Jersey 10 to 3 during 5v5, just being generally amazing. I like him on the third, but Ovi and Backstrom are so much more dangerous than the twins. I guess he’s good wherever he goes. Called it!
- Andre Burakovsky has a four-game point streak to start his NHL career. If you say you saw that coming, I call you a liar and then I slash your tires and then I do identity theft and ruin your credit rating. The Burracuda came out of nowhere to call dibs on second-line center. At age 19.
The Joe B suit of the night is brown like an Eagles album.
Put a five-spot up on a possible Vezina candidate, all during even strength. Watch a tightly wound Jersey team come undone. The Twins throw a party. Holtby does handstands. Not a bad Thursday night.
The Caps now have two wins and two (overtime) losses. That looks modest, but they’re really a good team right now. They got goals from all four lines tonight, plus a mostly positive performance from the blue line and a goalie who was perfect when not sabotaged. Nothing not to like except Marty Havlat’s face.
The Caps rule. Wherever Adam Oates is right now, he should stay there.
The Caps are outshooting the Devils 10 to 2 when Eric Fehr is on the ice during 5v5. Now imagine if Ovi took the 10.
— RMNB (@rmnb) October 17, 2014
