Photo: WashCaps
Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (March 1)
This was the first of two make-up games from Winter Storm Jonas in January, the Pittsburgh Penguins came to Verizon Center to play the league-best Washington Capitals.
Penguin Evgeni Malkin opened the scoring on a 2-0-1 6:14 into the first period. The first Caps shot on goal came at 8:53 in the first. Tom Wilson drew the first penalty of the game, Chris Kunitz for tripping. Unfortunately, the Capitals could not convert on the man advantage. Later in the period, Karl Alzner would go to the penalty box but Phil Kessel would also be penalized shortly after so the teams skated 4-on-4.
The second period did not start out well for the Capitals either as Patric Hornqvist doubled the Pens lead. But less than a minute later, Mike Richards got the Caps on the board.
Kris Letang hooked Jason Chimera and they both headed to the box because it was deemed that Chimera embellished his fall. Shortly after, Ian Cole hooked Dmitry Orlov but Orlov, like Chimera, was called for embellishment. The referees seemed to lean to one team over another. The Capitals penalty kill was successful through out the period. Evgeny Kuznetsov tied the game with his 20th goal of the season at the 16:03 mark.
The Capitals continued to play their heavy game into the third. Both teams traded chances early in the period. Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie collided mid-way through the third period. The net hit Braden Holtby and he fell to the ice but no harm no foul. Holtby even made a jumping save shortly after. The Capitals had a power play with 7:15 remaining and defenseman Matt Niskanen scored the game-winning goal, his fourth of the season. Holtby with a great glove save on Carl Hagelin with 32.8 seconds left. Capitals defeat the Penguins 3-2.
Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (March 2)
Daniel Winnik’s Capitals debut and Brooks Laich returned to Verizon Center. The Caps had a very touching tribute to the former forward who spent 12 years Rocking the Red.
The first period was not that entertaining except for the last two minutes of the first period, when new dad Taylor Chorney scored his goal first as a Capital and his first since Feb 15, 2011. 28 seconds later Alex Ovechkin scored to double the lead.
The second was not a good period for the Capitals. One of the many Maple Leaf rookies, Nikita Soshnikov scored his first NHL goal. The Leafs were outshooting the Caps 22-12 at the end of the second period. Not what you were expecting when the last place team plays the first place team.
The Caps at the time were 32-0-1 when leading after two and the Leafs are 0-23-4 when trailing after two. Less than three minutes into the third, Nazem Kadri forgot he was a hockey player not a baseball player and deflected a puck past Grubauer but he used a high stick.
Colin Greening tied the game for Leafs, 8:16 into third. 40 seconds later, Alex Ovechkin got the Caps first shot on goal of the period. No energy from the Caps in this period so far. Soshnikov went to the box for boarding and, as the penalty was being announced, Matt Niskanen blasted one past Bernier. The Leafs pulled Bernier for the extra attacker with 2:08 left in the game. The Caps win 3-2.
Capitals vs. New York Rangers (March 4)
Another not-so-good first period for the Capitals. Jesper Fast scored his ninth of the season and Keith Yandle scored his fifth of the season to give the Blueshirts a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes of play. Each team had a power play chance and the Rangers converted on theirs while the Capitals did not.
10:58 into the second period Jay Beagle knocked one in past Antti Raanta. There would be a lengthy review (NHL situation room in Toronto and NYR coach’s challenge) but it would be deemed a good goal twice. With 40 seconds remaining in the second period, T.J. Oshie tied the game with a power play goal.
17 seconds into the third, Derek Stepan scored to give the Blueshirts a 3-2 lead. The puck had bounced off of Orpik and past Holtby. 9:50 remaining Oshie almost tied it again but Raanta made a goal-line save. That time the puck had gone off McDonagh’s skate but no luck for the Capitals. The Caps fell to the Blueshirts 3-2 but still have a enormous lead of them in the standings.
Capitals vs. Boston Bruins (March 5)
The Capitals started their longest road trip (9 days, 4 games) of the season in Boston against the Bruins. Nate Schmidt returned to the lineup after a few game absence. Washington had defeated Boston in five (now six) consecutive games.
Bruin Patrice Bergeron scored 7:11 into the game to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. The Bruins have the most first period goals in the league and the Capitals have had allowed the first goal in 10 of their last 12 games. The fourth line of Winnik-Beagle-Richards continued to play well and so did the second line. Tom Wilson and Adam McQuaid dropped the gloves in the final minutes of the period. Even though the Caps gave up the first goal, this was an improved first period.
The Capitals got an early second period power play but did not score a power play goal. Bruin Torey Krug believed he scored but Caps head coach Barry Trotz used his coach’s challenge for offside and was successful. Then Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin hit Kevan Miller into the boards. Ovechkin was assessed a five-minute major and Brad Marchand collected a two-minute roughing penalty for going after Ovechkin. There would be a three-minute Bruins power play but it would become 1:50 of a 5-on-3 after Tom Wilson joined Ovechkin in the box. The Capitals penalty kill would be successful, thanks to goaltender Philipp Grubauer and his iron friend. Defenseman Karl Alzner tied the game at the 13:08 mark.
Throughout the third period, both teams traded hits and some not-so-nice words. Dmitry Orlov laid a big legal hit on a Bruin in the front of the Capitals bench. The Capitals penalty kill continued to be successful and the power play actually got some chances as well. T.J. Oshie had a great shorthanded chance during a penalty kill. Zheno Chara hit Ovechkin in the face with his stick late in the period. Then Brooks Orpik got his face cut after getting hit on the boards. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer had a great night in net for the Capitals.
The Capitals and Bruins headed to 3-on-3 overtime. The overtime was active and eventful. Matt Niskanen, set up by Andre Burakovsky, blasted one past Tuukka Rask. Capitals win 2-1 in Overtime. The Capitals still have not lost two consecutive games in regulation. Also, the Caps are the first team to 100 points this season.
The Capitals now head to California to take on the three top teams in the Pacific. They start on Monday night at 10pm EST at Honda Center against the Anaheim Ducks.
Between the Blue Lines 