President Trump hinted Monday that he thinks Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals can win a second straight Stanley Cup. If their performance Tuesday in the third period was an indication, the Capitals could prove him right.
In a matchup with a likely playoff team, the Capitals scored three goals in the third to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 at home.
Alex Ovechkin scored at the 4:31 mark of the period, a screamer from the high slot that ended up being the deciding goal. It was his NHL-leading 49th of the season, which matched his total from 2017-18 and tied him for 13th all-time with Brendan Shanahan (656).
T.J. Oshie, John Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom also scored and Evgeny Kuznetsov had three assists on his bobblehead giveaway night. Braden Holtby saved 27 shots for the Capitals (45-24-8, 98 points).
Washington remained in the driver’s seat of the Metropolitan Division, ahead of the New York Islanders (95 points), who lost Tuesday. The Capitals play the Hurricanes again Thursday in Carolina, the start of a three-game road trip for Washington.
Coach Todd Reirden was pleased with the team’s effort in keeping the Hurricanes to just 28 shots on net.
“It’s important to try to do the best you can to get into shot lanes and make sure you’re tying up sticks,” Reirden said. “I think for the most part tonight we did a decent job. If we could keep under 30 shots we were happy with that.”
A mostly uneventful first period was interrupted by Oshie’s 100th goal in a Capitals uniform. Kuznetsov shuttled a pass from the goal line and over the crease to Oshie to snap it in behind Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek.
Kuznetsov also had the secondary assists on the Capitals’ second and third goals later. He said he wished every player could have a bobblehead night.
“Bobblehead is special,” he said. “Of course when your organization does something for you and fans cheering for you, you want to give them back something. The best thing we give them (is) the win.”
“It’s great to see him flying like that,” Ovechkin added. “Obviously it’s important time for us, and if he’s gonna play like that, it’s gonna help us a lot.”
The Hurricanes drew even late in the second period thanks to a Washington mistake. Carolina pulled Mrazek during a delayed Washington penalty, and Brooks Orpik and Christian Djoos headed toward the bench for a shift change — leading Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin wide open.
Slavin created a play in the offensive zone for Dougie Hamilton to score Carolina’s tying goal from the blue line.
Washington’s energy level continued to look low until Ovechkin came through with his goal in the third and sparked the team. Fans, too, got excited and began to chant “We want 50.” Ovechkin hadn’t scored in five games and only had two goals in his previous nine, a low rate by his standards.
“It would be nice to get it, but we still have five games,” Ovechkin said. “I have lots of chances to score tonight, but finally I get one because I think last couple games I didn’t use my chances. It was important goal and I’m happy with the win.”
Carlson teamed up with Dmitry Orlov to make it 3-1. Orlov flung a pass toward the left of the crease and Carlson redirected it in for a picture-perfect goal. Backstrom added an empty-netter late.
Now the two teams will regroup and play again Thursday, and again Washington will need to contain Carolina’s offense.
“They’ve been one of the hottest teams, so obviously they’re scoring maybe a little bit more than they normally do, but teams that shoot like they do, like Philly did, they pinch hard, they play aggressive,” Carlson said. “You’re gonna give up shots and the better positionally we are, the less dangerous chances they’re gonna get. And the better our execution, the more odd-man rushes, breakaways 2-on-1s we’re gonna get going the other way.”
The Capitals have just five games remaining before the playoffs. Ironically, they have yet to clinch a playoff berth due to how tight the Metro Division is, but they’re expected to lock in a berth later this week.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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