Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena, Nicklas Backstrom scored his 200th career goal as a Capital. It was clutch.
Backstrom scored with 42.9 seconds left in the third period to give the Caps a thrilling 3-2 victory over division-rival Columbus.
Video
Backstrom's 200th goal was a HUGE one. #CapsJackets #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/yKb6iFrelV
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 7, 2018
The goal happened due to some hockey chaos and several Capitals winning individual battles.
After Backstrom fired a shot on net, Alex Ovechkin hustled to collect the rebound. The Russian machine then blindly flung the puck towards the crease. The shot was blocked initially by Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard, but check out TJ Oshie’s hard work near the crease
Oshie swept Savard’s stick away, and, as he was falling, backhanded the puck back to Backstrom who had moved to the far circle. Backstrom one-timed the puck home for his 12th goal of the season.
Mr. 200 now sits fifth all-time in Capitals goals.
Here’s Backy posing with the milestone puck.
2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣🚨!! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/D9Q3pD2oBk
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 7, 2018
While Backstrom was the hero, Braden Holtby and the Capitals PK helped earn the last-minute victory by killing off a high-sticking minor by Jakub Vrana with 3:08 remaining in the third period.
This Jakub Vrana high stick forces the Caps to make a huge kill in the final minutes of the third pic.twitter.com/u9T2DYVQI6
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) February 7, 2018
The kill was highlighted by a Brooks Orpik block.
