The Washington Capitals looked to extend their winning streak to six against the Vegas Golden Knights in a Saturday night tilt and did so with a 5-2 win.
Plus: Jonas Siegenthaler, on the one year anniversary of his NHL debut, scored his first NHL goal in his 44th game. Congrats, Jonas!
Minus: The Capitals had a 5on3 for over a minute and didn’t convert. Luckily it didn’t cost them.
10 Things:
1) Evgeny Kuznetsov started off the game with a bang with a breakaway goal 58 seconds into the game. It all started with a great breakout passing between Radko Gudas and Dmitry Orlov. The latter then sent a beautiful pass to Kuznetsov and the rest was history.
2) Tom Wilson potted a goal after a bad turnover from Jonathan Marchessault. Vrana was able to corral the puck and feed to Wilson for a one time slinger.
3) The second line had both the opening goals. That line of Vrana-Kuznetsov-Wilson has been red hot since being put together. In the last four games they have 10 goals and 11 assists.
4) The Knights were able to get on the board half way through the first after Kunzetsov won the facoff, it hit Radko Guda’s skate, and went right to the slot where Max Pacioretty was able to snipe it top corner.
5) Braden Holtby had a great game with some big saves to keep the Capitals up. His numbers might not show it too much, but he’s been much better than they show over the last two weeks.
6) The Capitals impressive second period goal streak almost came to end tonight, but with a little less than five minutes left in the period, Travis Boyd sent a sweet pass from the corner to the slot for a streaking Jonas Siegenthaler who potted his very first NHL goal. What a way to keep the streak alive.
7) Unfortunately Garnett Hathaway took a penalty shortly after, and with him being one of the Capitals better penalty killers and with Carl Hagelin day-to-day they were essentially down two very good penalty killers. Vegas made the Capitals pay with Riley Smith ripper.
8) To end the second period, TJ Oshie took a penalty defending Nicklas Backstrom, flinging McNabb down to the ice. It was a penalty, but it didn’t cost the Capitals. It’s usually never a good thing to take a penalty, but it’s hard to get upset with players standing up for each other.
9) The Golden Knights have the number one road penalty kill and it showed through most the game. They killed three through the game until they were faced with Backstrom’s Swedish strength as he powered one through Marc-Andre Fleury that leaked into the net. It gave the Capitals a two goal lead once again. Carlson also grabbed the primary assist on the goal putting him alone in second for Capitals defensemen in points.
10) The Capitals had a 5on3 that was over a minute with less than five minutes to go but did not convert. That usually costs teams but it didn’t this time. They won 5-2.
That is now six straight wins for the Capitals. Overall it was a strong game by the Capitals, and they continue to tear through the league as they stay in first. Next, the Capitals will play the Arizona Coyotes Monday. The Coyotes have always given the Capitals fits so it won’t be an easy win as they go for their seventh straight win.