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The Capitals came into tonight looking to win their fourth game in a row, and the Flames were coming off their first victory in Anaheim in 25 regular season games. This was also Garnet Hathaway’s first game against his former team, which is always fun. Who would prevail? Spoiler alert: it was Real American Hero John Carlson and the Capitals.
Here’s Tuesday night’s Plus/Minus:
Plus: Both Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson extended their point streaks to eight games, Ovi with a goal and an assist and Carlson with two goals. Carlson’s eight-game point streak is a new career high, the Oilers got shut out tonight so Carlson still holds the league lead in points with 20.
Minus: Tonight was the ninth time in ten games that the Capitals have allowed their opponents at least four power play opportunities. Yikes.
And now, live footage of DC sports fans tonight…
Ten more notes on the game:
2. Flames’ captain Mark Giordano was called for slashing on Alex Ovechkin, and the Capitals’ power play…tried to get to work. Ovechkin got a good shot off with 16 seconds left on the man-advantage, but Cam Talbot made a better glove save to keep the score at 0-0. The rest of the first period was just as uneventful as this power play.
3. Just 35 seconds into the second period, however, John Carlson extended his point streak to eight games with a goal on a beautiful shot from the boards. With an assist on the tally, Alex Ovechkin also extended his point streak to eight games.
4. 2:06 after Carlson’s tally the Caps got another goal on the board, this one courtesy of…huh hold on, let me check my notes…nope, that’s right, Chandler Stephenson! Chandler Stephenson scored his first goal of the season, and boy was it a weird one! Talbot misplayed the puck behind the net so Stephenson stole it and tried to send it up the ice, but then it bounced off Rasmus Andersson’s skate and into the net. Flukey, but he’ll take it. This was Stephenson’s first goal since December 31, 2018, ending a 36-game goal drought.
5. Ovechkin was called for interference against Sean Monahan, and it only took Elias Lindholm 28 seconds to get the Flames on the board with a power play goal. Oof.
6. With 5:39 left in the second, TJ Oshie got caught slashing Mikael Backlund, and Austin Czarnik made him regret it with Calgary’s second power play tally of the night. Not a great look for the Caps’ PK units.
7. A whole ten seconds later Alex Ovechkin tallied his seventh goal of the season, this one off a beautiful feed from who else but Nicklas Backstrom. Tie game? Ovi said no thanks! Fun fact: with that assist, Backstrom passed Daniel Sedin for fifth-most assists by a Swedish-born player. No big deal.
8. With 7:26 left to go, Tom Wilson scored his fourth goal of the season to restore the Caps’ (dreaded) two-goal lead. Jakub Vrana made this goal happen by driving to the net and opening up the passing lane for Lars Eller to send the puck over to Wilson. Fun fact: all of Wilson’s goals this season have been in enemy territory.
9. John Carlson decided 19 points through October 22 wasn’t enough, so he went for the empty netter for his second goal of the night. This was his seventh multi-point game through 11 games this season, and the fourth two goal game of his career. Not too shabby, Carly, not too shabby.
10. The fourth line was absolutely buzzing again tonight when they were on the ice together. They drive possession well and clearly have good chemistry, even with Stephenson not playing his natural position at center.
Up next? The Capitals will travel to Edmonton tonight for Thursday’s tilt against the Oilers, who were just shut out for the second game in a row.