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The Caps and Predators may not be in the same division, or even the same conference; that didn’t stop tonight’s game from being a big one for both clubs, with a buzz around it that was akin to that of a heated rivalry. Most of that revolved around the return of Barry Trotz, the first – and up until this summer, the only – coach in Predators’ history.
But after the tribute video and the standing ovation from the Nashville faithful, it was time for some actual hockey. And if you were expecting some intense, back-and-forth hockey from two of the League’s hottest teams… you weren’t disappointed. Even if the final score left something to be desired.
First up, here’s Friday night’s Plus/Minus:
Plus/Minus:
- Plus: Alex Ovechkin. Two goals didn’t just move him closer to the League lead in that department; they also got the Caps back in the game, erasing a two-goal deficit that at the time seemed insurmountable.
- Minus: Failure to close. The Caps had the lead late in the game, something with which they’ve become quite familiar of late. They had a one-goal lead, something else with which they’ve become quite familiar. And yet for the first time in a long time, they let a team back in the game and allowed the Predators to not only tie but win the game – in regulation.
And now, this…
Ten more notes on the game:
- This one had a bit of a tight feel to it in the opening period, with both teams being aggressive but not exactly making anything happen. After scrambling a bit in their own zone early on, though, the Caps eventually settled in and began to push back, keeping the Predators penned into their own zone for a series of shifts at a time.
- Watching Nashville’s first goal over and over, it’s still somewhat puzzling to figure out. Nothing about it is that strange – the Predators win the draw, get the puck back to Seth Jones, Braden Holtby gets screened and the puck zips up and over/past him into the net. Perhaps it’s the weird angle the shot took, or the dramatic flop backwards by Holtby on the play, or… something. Whatever it was, it made it 1-0.
- Nobody in the League has won more times when scoring the game’s first goal than the Caps, who have 23 such wins on their record. Nobody in the League has a worse winning percentage when giving up the game’s first goal than the Caps, who have pulled out a victory just one time in 16 tries. Well.. make that 17. It’s one of those stats that doesn’t exactly mean what you might think, because there’s been a lot of tied-game hockey throughout, but it’s hard not to immediately assume a win or loss based on who scored first. So admit it… you were waiting for that late game rally and ultimately the victory by the Predators as soon as that puck went past a flailing Holtby in the first period, just like I was.
- The hole got a bit deeper early in the second period, when a ridiculous series of deflected passes by the Predators eventually ended up behind Holtby. If they were to attempt that play 100 times, 99 of them would have bounced wide or over a stick blade – but all it takes is once. Hard to fault Holtby on that one, although you could take some of his teammates to task for not clearing the puck out to start the play or for failing to tie up sticks well enough. Looking at you, guys named Brooks.
- Stop me if you’ve heard this one at some point this season: less than two minutes after the Preds extended the lead to two, the Caps struck right back with a quick-response goal of their own. Absolutely gorgeous work by Nicklas Backstrom to carry the puck up through neutral, dancing around defenders along the way, before setting up Karl Alzner for the dish to Alex Ovechkin. And as we all know, once Ovechkin gets the puck on his stick in his office… it’s money.
- Maybe we all know it, and the goalies all know it – but that doesn’t keep it from happening again and again, or from happening again tonight. Because there he was in the Ovi spot again, this time on the power play, and there went the puck into the net for his second of the night. Nice work by Mike Green to get that puck right in Ovechkin’s wheelhouse as only he can do, and of course, another great shot by the Great 8 to give him goal #24 on the season.
- They weren’t done with the extra man just yet, either. With Shea Weber in the box early in the third period, the Caps went to work, putting on a dizzying display of puck movement – the kind that makes you appreciate the work done by someone like Nicklas Backstrom, who maneuvers the play like the conductor of a symphony orchestra. And then there was Marcus Johansson doing what Marcus Johansson has become known for doing: going to the net and getting rewarded.
- So the power play was clicking pretty well tonight, picking up the team’s sixth and seventh power-play goals in their last eight games (which has propelled them back up to the #2 spot in the League). At the other end of the rink, the penalty kill – backed up, as usual, by Braden Holtby – was doing its job, as well, killing off the first three Predators’ man advantages…
- …but then the fourth one happened, and at the worst possible time. With a little over five minutes to go in regulation, and the Caps holding on to a one-goal lead, John Carlson found himself in the penalty box to sweat it out and hope the penalty-killers would do their job. He didn’t have to wait long, though, as 45 seconds later Mattias Ekholm
- After having coughed up the lead late in the game, you’d think the smart thing to do would be to buckle down, focus and try and get at least a point out of this one. Matt Niskanen was clearly not aware of this mentality – or at least that’s what it seemed like when he attempted an ill-advised cross-ice pass in his own zone with James Neal lurking and less than two minutes remaining in regulation. And while James Neal makes a lump of dirt look like a Mensa candidate, he’s not going to miss an opportunity like the one Niskanen handed him on a silver platter. Game, set, match.
So for the first time in over three weeks, the Caps failed to pick up a single point, letting a one-goal lead slip away in the game’s final minutes with nothing to show for it. And yet it’s important to keep an eye on the big picture – that this was just the Caps’ third regulation loss since December 1 is pretty impressive, and it came against a very good team in Nashville. They’re going to lose more games in regulation before the season is over; the key is to not let it happen too often.
Yes, we’d prefer if Niskanen didn’t keep single-handedly costing the Caps points, and sure, it would have been nice if the Rangers hadn’t won tonight. But they played well, and they get right back at it tomorrow night with a chance to redeem themselves against the Stars.
And at least Filip Forsberg didn’t score. Silver linings abound.
Game highlights: