(Caps Outsider)
Nic Dowd missed Washington’s last game with a lower body injury, but he made up for his absence by scoring twice, and adding an assist, to lift the Caps over Detroit, 4-3 in overtime.
With Washington trailing 2-0 in the second period, Dowd scored twice in 11 seconds to tie the game. The Red Wings took the lead in the third, but Erik Gustafsson – with his fourth goal in two games – tied it before Dmitry Orlov scored the overtime winner.
With the win, Washington has now won seven of its last eight games.
On the first goal, Dowd almost lost the puck on a curl and drag move around a Red Wing defender before recovering and beating Ville Husso glove side.
Dowd complimented his teammates for his two goals. “[Ovechkin] made a nice play to me and I was able to find the net,” Dowd said.
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 20, 2022
Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette had high praise for his centerman.
“[He] made a heck of a move to pull around and get to the slot area,” Laviolette said. “Really nice play, really nice shot.”
On the second goal, the Caps dumped it in, won a board battle, before the puck got to Nick Jensen who fired the puck on net, that Dowd got a stick on. Dowd called the goal “a bit of a nothing play,” before complimenting Jensen’s backdoor pass. Dowd’s two goals were the second fastest goals scored by the same player in franchise history.
*11 seconds later*
DOWD DEFLECTION! pic.twitter.com/xqVJ6sZiFF
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 20, 2022
Dowd recorded an assist on Orlov’s overtime winner, giving him just his third career three-point night and first multi-point night of the season. Dowd’s last three point game was March 2020.
Midway through the third period, the Red Wings took the lead, only for Gustafsson to tie it on the next shift. Gustafsson, whose hat trick propelled the Caps to a 5-2 win over Toronto Friday, has now scored four goals in the last two games.
“It’s always fun to score goals,” Gustafsson said, adding you want to help the team win.
With the win, the Caps have won seven of their last eight, vaulting them to the verge of a playoff position. The only loss came against the Dallas Stars where the visitors scored two fluke goals to win the game despite Washington controlling play.
“Every game going forward matters,” Dowd said. “We’re trying to catch teams in the standings. We’re trying to separate ourselves. We’re trying to get into a playoff spot. Every single night is important to us.”
