Last night marked the end of the Capitals’ regular-season series against the Devils. Like the three that preceded it over the last six weeks, it was a close, back-and-forth affair, ending in a 6-5 final for the good guys – with 10 different players scoring a goal between the two teams.
It was an event-filled game to be sure, but let’s focus on two moments of pure hustle that helped the Caps win the game (and marvel, again, at how “hustle” was a pretty foreign concept to this team just a year ago).
First was the eventual game-winner by Pierre-Luc Dubois, which was scored about 10 seconds after the Caps jumped back into the lead with a beauty of a deflection goal by Taylor Raddysh.
…wait, first we have to watch that deflection again because it was pretty awesome:
Yup, still good. Okay, so right after that goal is scored, the two teams meet at center ice for a faceoff, as is typical after a goal. Pierre-Luc Dubois wins the puck back to Rasmus Sandin, who passes it across to Matt Roy, who dumps the puck deep into the Devils’ zone (clicking off Raddysh on the way) as the forwards drive the net. Again, a pretty typical play all around.
Unfortunately for Jake Allen, he apparently missed the “typical play” memo and misplays the puck with Aliaksei Protas directly on top of him, Protas having sped up ice to make the play as difficult on the goalie as possible. Protas digs the puck out, places a perfect pass out to Dubois in the slot, and with no goalie in between the pipes, rifles it home for the team’s sixth goal.
if you’re a goaltender…
— Washington Capitals (@wshcapitals.bsky.social) November 30, 2024 at 9:41 PM
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Protas’s speed and Dubois’s ability to be in the right place at the right time combine for what turns out to be the game-winner.
Dubois comes up big again late in regulation, using his speed to ensure his team takes the win. With the Caps now clinging to a one-goal lead and less than 20 seconds remaining, Brandon Duhaime wins a board battle and sends the puck down the ice into the Devils’ zone – a play which usually would result in a whistle for icing.
Not this time, it wouldn’t, because Dubois books it to the loose puck -outpacing Jack Hughes, who isn’t exactly slow – and forces the icing to be waved off. He then draws not one but two New Jersey players to him in the corner, wasting valuable seconds until Hughes fires the puck the other way in desperation…icing the puck for the Devils. Game over.
A play certainly worthy of some stick taps, as his teammates can attest.
