After the upsetting loss to the Boston Bruins in which they gave up a three goal lead to lose in regulation, the Capitals took a rare one game stop in New York City. The Capitals also, for the first time in years, went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. The strangeness of the lineup didn’t help though as they fell to the Rangers 2-4 (with an empty netter).
Plus: Seeing that classic Ovechkin goal was just so darn good to see (and moved him further up the list of all-time goal scorers).
Minus: The Capitals took four penalties, three of them in the offensive zone. It’s not frustrating just because they are taking so many but because they are taking them at the other end of the ice. It also always seems to be the penalty killers that are taking the penalties, which is a double whammy. Luckily it didn’t cost them tonight.
10 more notes on the game…
Overall, it wasn’t as bad a game as it maybe looked by the Capitals – but it’s starting to feel like missing so much talent and depth is taking its toll. The Capitals desperately need Evgeny Kuznetsov, Justin Schultz, Lars Eller, and Ilya Samsonov back.
Next up for the Caps is the Philadelphia Flyers for the annual Super Bowl game, Sunday at noon.