Thanks to some rescheduling, this was only the second set of back-to-back games the Caps have played so far this season – and it coincided with Ilya Samsonov being ready to step back into the net after a rough bout with COVID and a brief conditioning stint. After not playing in the NHL since January 17th, he returned with a big win.
Plus: Pretty much everything. The Capitals played a really strong game, getting timely goals and really shutting down a young, fast Devils team. It would have been nice to see a power-play goal, with New Jersey sporting the worst penalty kill in the league… but they’re just a week removed from a three-goal power-play outburst so perhaps that’s being nitpicky.
Minus: The first 5-10 minutes of the third. The Devils pushed hard over that span, and the Caps bent but didn’t break to hold on to their one-goal lead.
And now, this:
A few more notes on the game:
Overall it was a strong game by the Capitals, who have now won three in a row and are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. They’ll need to continue that strong play with a pair in Boston waiting for them later this week, as first place in the division will be on the line.