The Caps have left the first period of Tuesday’s Wild game with the lead thanks to oft-scratched but universally beloved defender, Nate Schmidt.
Video
Schmidt happens #CapsWild on @csnma pic.twitter.com/wBTwRXAdEF
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 14, 2017
Schmidt set the play in motion, but it was Nick Backstrom who made it dangerous. Backstrom skated behind the net and sent the puck up the slot. Alex Ovechkin was a possible recipient, but I don’t know. Doesn’t matter: the pass sailed beyond Ovi, landing instead on the stick of Schmidt. Schmidt had driven to the slot, opened up a passing line. The puck landed on his stick and headed for Devan Dubnyk’s net with traffic.
This is Nate Schmidt’s second goal of the season. He had been scratched for all of March until the 12th, when Schmidt stepped in for Kevin Shattenkirk while he’s on suspension.
Shattenkirk’s suspension ends after tonight.
When you get infinity-scratched by Barry Trotz despite owning the third best possession score among Caps defensemen pic.twitter.com/GfSSr60uTE
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 14, 2017
