The Caps’ victory against the Devils on Thursday could easily be about how Washington bounced back from an embarrassing 5-1 loss to the same team just five days ago, but before the first period even ended, Alex Ovechkin wrote a story of his own.
New Jersey’s Miles Wood high-sticked Ovi in the face, drawing a mouthful of blood, and didn’t even get called. The play knocked Ovi out of the game – briefly – as we went to the locker room only to come back with an extra in time for a 5-on-3 power play. Ovi said he was a ‘little mad’ after that. Unlike five days ago, when the Caps were a negative 1 on with the man – or two – advantage – Ovi scored right away. He’d score again before the period ended to give the Caps a 2-0 lead.
“He’s always better when he’s pissed off,” Nicklas Backstrom said after the game.
You’d think all of this means the Caps fixed their issues – but the Caps wasted a double minor courtesy of a high stick to Lars Eller’s face, and later – a shorthanded goal, once again highlighted the Caps’ struggles on the power play. Coach Todd Reirden said they spoke about that post-game, but praised Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana for a strong shift that followed and gave the Caps a 2-goal lead again.
Ovechkin would score later from a spectacular pass from Tom Wilson to cap off the 5-2 win.
Ovi went to the locker room after taking this harsh stick to the face #CapsDevils pic.twitter.com/k3QJxNsuvF
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) January 17, 2020
Just another Thursday at the office @ovi8 pic.twitter.com/YXDIScWYKr
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 17, 2020
Cue Shake, Rattle & Roll 🎶 pic.twitter.com/rInhZVgwIW
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 17, 2020
Ovechkin hattrick. pic.twitter.com/MEVRvTonIZ
— Capitals Outsider (@CapsOutsider) January 17, 2020
