The Washington Capitals (9-8-2) were looking for a spark in the middle of a slump. They sure got one as they beat the Los Angeles Kings (10-6-4) 2-1 at home on Monday night.
Los Angeles had been one of the best road teams in the NHL this season, but the Capitals were able to get the job done.
Matt Roy opened the game with a tip-in goal to put the Capitals up early on.
Then, early in the second period, Alex Ovechkin extended the lead to 2-0 with his 903rd career tally. This turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Later in the middle frame, Los Angeles cut it to 2-1 with an Anze Kopitar power play goal. This would mark the 38-year-old’s final game in D.C.
Thankfully, the Capitals were able to hold off the visitors for their 9th victory of the season. Next up is another home game against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.
Capitals Analysis
The Capitals made a huge adjustment to the forward lines going into this game. Head coach Spencer Carbery swapped Hendrix Lapierre and Nic Dowd on the bottom-6, marking the first time Dowd and Brandon Duhaime were separated.
The adjusted second-line trio of Aliaksei Protas, Justin Sourdif, and Tom Wilson got things going early on. Protas attempted a shot that was tipped in by Roy. Protas hasn’t been playing his best lately, but it’s his first point in six games.
Additionally, Connor McMichael was paired with Ovechkin on the first line, continuing where they left off the previous game. The line pairing paid off as McMichael was behind the net and found Ovechkin in front. Ovechkin then fired the puck past ex-Capital Darcy Kuemper to make it 2-0.
“I thought all four lines played really well and found some good balance,” said Dowd.
The 40-year-old Ovechkin seems to have gotten it together as he now has a goal in three of his last four games. Not only was this career goal No. 903, he now has 442 tallies at Capital One Arena. Ovechkin now passes Gordie Howe for the most NHL goals scored at a single venue.
As for the Capitals’ special teams, it could still use some work. They went 0-for-2 on the power play and the penalty kill gave up another opposing goal. Kopitar helped Los Angeles cut it to 2-1, as the Capitals have given up a goal on the penalty kill for the third straight game.
Fortunately, another player on the Capitals stepped up big time: Charlie Lindgren. Lindgren had lost his last four starts, but this felt like a bounce-back game. He stopped 30 of 31 shots that went his way en route to his second victory this season.
Capitals Report Card
Team: B+
The team scored two goals that were just enough to hold off a red-hot Kings team. The special teams could still use some work though.
Aliaksei Protas-Justin Sourdif-Tom Wilson: A
The second-line trio accounted for the first goal which was scored by Roy. Protas attempted a shot from the blue line that Roy helped tip in.
Alex Ovechkin: A
Ovechkin is starting to get his mojo back. His pairing with McMichael on the first line is paying off as he scored for the second straight game and third of his last four games.
Charlie Lindgren: A
It hasn’t been an easy year for Lindgren, but he stopped 30 of 31 shots for only his second win of the year.
Capitals Special Teams: D
Once again, the special teams could still use some work. The Capitals still can’t score on the power play, while the penalty kill still gives up crucial goals.
Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for Sportsnaut. He also contributes to the sites … More about Harry Lichtman