The Red Wings must have nightmares about playing the Caps in the third period. Just less than two weeks ago, they took a 2-1 lead into the third only to see the Caps go on a four goal tear to win the game. Last night, with the game tied, the Caps again used a big final frame to win, this time adding three goals in the third period.
But while the goals were great (and obviously necessary), this win doesn’t happen without a huge save that Logan Thompson made just thirty seconds into the third period.
With the game at a 1-1 tie going into the third, the Red Wings created a 2-on-1 with two of their best players: Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, aka two guys you definitely didn’t want to see with the puck on an odd-man rush, as they are Detroit’s two leading scorers (60 and 69 points respectively).
Raymond was able to dish the puck over to Larkin for a slam dunk goal but Thompson read it perfectly and was able to slide over and shut it down.
It was just one save, sure, but perhaps the most important of the game. You never want to give a goal in the first or last minute of the period. That goal would have given Detroit a 1-2 lead and demoralized the Caps starting the third period. Without it, who knows how the game would have ended.
Thompson has been struggling a bit lately, something even he admitted to postgame, but he’s been finding his game once again – which is great news for the Caps as the playoff race begins to heat up. You’re nothing without your goalie in the playoffs, and it seems like the Caps are ramping up to have him take over full time down the stretch, so getting him into his peak form as they approach the postseason is huge for the Caps and was huge for them in last night’s win.
Next up, a visit from the spiraling Flyers tomorrow night at Cap One.