Plus: The Caps stayed hot on the power play, scoring twice with the extra man in this one. They have now scored at least once on the power play in five straight games, nine of their last 10, and 13 of their last 18 games.
Minus: Scoring twice on your own power play? Great. Giving up two power-play goals to the other team’, as well? Not so great, especially if you can’t seem to generate anything at even strength.
Key Moment: This turnover by Aliaksei Protas cannot happen, and it set up a stretch pass for Arizona’s opening tally:
Caps Player of the Game: We’ll go with Sonny Milano, keeping the hot hand with a goal in his third-straight game.
Final Thoughts: In his pregame media chat, Coach Carbery talked about this afternoon’s game and how they hoped to avoid what was basically a trap game: first game after a big, emotional win, against a non-conference opponent at the bottom of the standings, and early on a Sunday to boot. Well, whatever plan they had in place to combat those things…they, uh, didn’t work.
The Caps gave up way too much in terms of shots, chances, power plays, overall offense, etc. to a team that has managed exactly one (1) win in their last 15 games prior to today. Not how you want to burn one of your games in hand if you’re still trying to make the playoffs.