For the first time since taking the reigns as Capitals Head Coach, Peter Laviolette made his return to Nashville for career win #700 in a game that, in all honesty, I wasn’t looking forward to.
Following a bad 4-1 loss to Ottawa on Sunday, there was a feeling of dread with the trade deadline a month away. At a point in the season where every loss is soul crushing, but every win is a small step in the right direction, it’s time for teams to determine whether they’re going to be buying or selling at the deadline. Unfortunately, the Caps have been playing like sellers for quite a bit. Until last night.
The Boys took Bridgestone by storm with a solid game of team hockey, showcasing some pretty puck movement and some downright incredible goaltending (with a few lucky pings here and there). Just what the doctor ordered; I mean look at this!
Tap tap tap it in pic.twitter.com/o9HgkdamQ0
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 16, 2022
Conor Sheary patiently scoots by a sprawling Dante Fabbro to set up Joe Snively’s third goal in three games. Not bad for a hockey guy from NOVA.
Later would come this outrageous passing by Carl Hagelin and Garnet Hathaway to keep Nick Jensen’s Norris Trophy Campaign going strong
Tic-Tac-PERFECTION pic.twitter.com/aEnfXxzM0V
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 16, 2022
Finally, the cherry on top, the coup de gras, the icing on the cake, Alex Ovechkin pumps the struggling Power Play full of life with an absolute scorcher past Juuse Sarros.
An absolute LASER for No. 3️⃣0️⃣ from the #Gr8 pic.twitter.com/8a2uYNDiki
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 16, 2022
Scoring for the first time in six games, Ovechkin breaks the slump and passes Jaromir Jagr for second in all-time 30+ goal seasons with 16. Add an Ovi ENG to remind Wayne Gretzky that he’s on the way, and you’ve got yourselves one of the most complete looking games I’ve seen from this team in a while.
All in all, Nashville did a solid job getting guys to the front of the net and screening Ilya Samsonov to cause chaos, unfortunately for them, he’s a descendant of Stretch Armstrong.
ooooo big stretch pic.twitter.com/LDIhIFXhxc
— noah hockey stick emoji 🏒 (@capsboybebop) February 16, 2022
I can’t help but feel bad Sammy didn’t get his shutout, but I think 33/34 is a number everyone can live with. Especially when the post pinged as many times as it did.
Ultimately, I hope this team can use the road trip to get their heads right after struggling at home for the past few games. Tomorrow night the Caps clash with the Flyers in what hopes to be a tune up game to get everyone ready for a surging Rangers squad who’ve won three of their last four.
