Capitals vs. Jets Recap: Winnipeg Wrestles a Win Against Washington

Arriving in Winnipeg after defeating Minnesota last night the Capitals looked to continue their winning ways north of the border. A late third period goal from Ben Chiarot, however, would push the Jets to a 3 to 1 victory on home ice.

Here’s Wednesday night’s Plus/Minus:

Plus: Washington once again got off to a good start on the road. They held Winnipeg shotless through the game’s first twelve minutes and tallied the contest’s first at the 13 minute mark. Through the first period the Capitals limited the Jets to two shots on goal.

Minus: Tonight’s matchup featured the NHL’s first and second best man advantage teams. The Jets connected on their second power play while Washington failed on both of their attempts.

Nine more notes on the game.

1. About an hour before the game began the Capitals announced that Braden Holtby would miss the contest due to an upper body injury. Pheonix Copley would start his second game in as many nights and Gavin McHale signed an ATO to join the team.
2. Additionally Michal Kempny did not dress for the Capitals due to illness. Jonas Siegenthaler replaced Kempny in the lineup and skated in his second career NHL contest.
3. 13 minutes into the first period Jakub Vrana entered the offensive zone with speed and fired a shot up and over Connor Hellebuyck for the early lead. Vrana ripped his shot through a Joe Morrow screen for his fifth of the season.
4. Evgeny Kuznetsov left the game in the first period after getting hit in the head by Jets defenseman Brandon Tanev. The team announced that he will be evaluated for an upper body injury tomorrow.
5. Winnipeg would get on the scoreboard in the second period. With Alex Ovechkin in the penalty box the Jets’ power play tallied, with Mark Scheifele depositing the puck past Copley from the slot.
6. Early in the third period Nicklas Backstrom was sprung on a breakaway by a pinpoint Madison Bowey pass. Backstrom’s two whacks at the puck sent it off of Hellbuyck, off the crossbar and off the far post before being harmlessly cleared by Dustin Byfuglien.
7. About seven minutes later Winnipeg would get their first lead of the game. Chiarot entered the offensive zone with speed and fired a dipping shot from fifty feet that eluded Copley’s glove.
8. With one minute left Kyle Connor hit Washington’s empty net from center ice to put the Jets comfortably ahead by two.
9. Entering tonight Washington was winless in the second half of back-to-back games this season. Their loss to the Jets drop them to 0-2-1.