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The Capitals six game win streak came to an end, as Carey Price and the poutine-munchers from up du Nord shut down the Washington offense.
Here’s Saturday night’s Plus/Minus:
Plus: Some flashes of promise from Lars Eller and Jakub Vrana bode well for the future, and Justin Williams seems to have found his game, as well.
Minus: Some general sluggishness is unacceptable when both teams are riding back-to-backs. Get the smelling salts, and get them in bulk. I have a Costco card.
And now, this…
Looks like hooking has been legalized in the DC confines of Verizon Center & it’s free until end of #CapsHabs
— Alan May (@MayHockeyCSN) December 18, 2016
Ten more notes on the game:
1. This game got off to a bang, quite literally, with Tom Wilson demonstrating the conservation of energy with a less than willing lab partner from Montreal.
Wilson hit on Carr pic.twitter.com/TM7P6ftCMY
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 18, 2016
2. Braden Holtby had very little work during the first period, up until Artturi Lehkonen came wrapping around the back of the cage like he was giving a puppy as a Christmas present. Lehkonen’s wraparound bounced mini golf-like off the goalie’s paddle and into the net to make it 1-0 Montreal.
Lehkonen goal pic.twitter.com/ATLO9wv7Z7
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 18, 2016
3. With the start of the second period, the Capitals got the rarest of penalty gems: an extended 5-on-3. The home team made good on their shimmering punitive opportunity. John Carlson dropped to his knees along the boards to keep the zone, and Justin Williams slung a gorgeous cross-crease pass to Nicklas Backstrom who roofed the tying goal above a sprawling Carey Price.
Backstrom goal pic.twitter.com/a6MOW67tOh
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 18, 2016
4. Not long after that, unconfirmed Russian splinter cell and election influencer Dmitry Orlov tactically neutralized rebel rabble rouser Shea Weber, denting his fibia like a balsa wood model of the Wright Flyer. Weber hobbled to the locker room, but eventually returned for the third period.
Weber injury? pic.twitter.com/0kHn6ME3ST
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 18, 2016
i know he was in pain but lol pic.twitter.com/HIbjSRYuZ8
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 18, 2016
5. With five minutes left in the second frame, a skittering puck got past John Carlson and Montreal took Karl Alzner to the whipping shed on a 2-on-1. Jeff Petry chipped home the Max Pacioretty helper, and Montreal took a 2-1 lead into the final period.
Petry goal pic.twitter.com/i7Yp7uE0VC
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 18, 2016
6. Despite some healthy back and forth, like a vigorous game of Tug-o-War, there would be no scoring in the third frame, and Montreal escaped Washington with two points and a 2-1 victory.
7. The Capitals’ special teams were not to blame for this loss, with the shorthanded unit successfully killing both tours of duty it faced, and the man advantage unit going 1-for-4 for a healthy 25%.
8. Justin Williams, the new Old Bae (I see you, NYC Caps Crew), failed to score a goal tonight, ending his three game goal streak, but did record an assist.
9. In the much-touted battle of Canada’s two best goalies (fight me, Crawford fans), Price won the day for his club, posting 20 saves en route to a .952 save percentage.
10. The Capitals win streak will end at six games, which, because the Metropolitan Division runs primarily on crack cocaine, assorted amphetamines, and Monster energy drink, did not really gain them much ground. Oh well, on to the next streak!
Well, the Caps are 6-1 in their last seven games, so that’s not so bad. They’ll get back at again on Wednesday in Philadelphia.
Game highlights: