Coming off a very exciting weekend where the Caps scored 15 goals, it came as no real surprise that they would put up a dud against a middling Western Conference team. Ultimately a slow start doomed the Caps, but they didn’t give up and if they had any shooting luck left over from the weekend they would have probably made another come back win (they are tied for most in the league).
The first goal against was an unlucky bounce that hit off a few things, eventually ending with a Flames player arguably kicking it into the net. It looked very close but not challenging is probably the right call from head coach Spencer Carbery.
The second goal against was a cherry picking situation where a Flames player got a break away and sniped it over Logan Thompson’s glove. It was a great shot that no goalie is stopping. But that put the Caps down by two pretty quickly. It was not a great start.
The Caps began to wake up after that, creating more and more chances but their shooting luck truly was used up over the weekend. Anytime the Caps got a good chance the Flames got a stick or body in front of it, and when they didn’t the Caps would whiff or the Flames goalie would make a great save.
The good news in all of this is Alex Ovechkin scored to cut down his chase for break Wayne Gretzky’s goal scoring record. He is now just 12 a way. And with the Caps winning so many games, if Ovechkin scores even in a loss, it’s technically a win.
That goal was also Ovechkin’s 30th on the season, making him only the fourth player in NHL history to hit 30 goals at the age of 39. He was also the quickest to do it in fewer games. We are truly witnessing history.
It wasn’t a good 60 by the Caps, but they fought back like they usually do and that’s always good to see. Hopefully next game their shooting luck comes back and they grab a W, along with a few Ovechkin wins.