Last game the Caps defensemen scored four goals against the Columbus Blue Jacket bringing their total goal count from their defensemen to 19 on the season. Last night, against the Jets, the Caps added two more from their defensemen, one from John Carlson one-timer and the other from a Jackob Chychrun wrister. That brought their defensive goal total to 21 on the season… they scored all of 20 from their defense just two years ago. There is still 58 more games to play. What a turn around.
But it’s not the defensemen I want to talk about. On the night the Caps and its fan celebrated Alexander Ovechkin being the first player to hit the 900 goals, he scored a goal that seemed like only he could score. At this point in the game, a little over five minutes into the second period, the Caps had blown a two goal lead. They allowed a last minute goal in the first period and a quick goal to start the second period, it was not looking good now with the Jets having all the momentum. Luckily, we have the greatest goal scorer in NHL history.
With the puck behind the Jets net, Dylan Strome centered the puck to Anthony Beauvillier but the puck tipped off his stick and fluttered out to Matt Roy at the top of the left circle. He hustled to the puck with a Jets player honing in on the puck as well. He reached out and slapped the puck away to the boards above the right circle. Ovechkin chased the puck down and in his Ovi way he just turned and flung the puck towards the net, not knowing what was going to be in his way. It knuckled and soared through three people and went top corner giving Caps the lead and the momentum back.
They eventually held on for a 4-3 win which was huge as it brough the Caps tied for Wild Card spot to securing a third place in the division spot. Overall, it was a good game that probably shouldn’t have been so close but when every game counts this time of year you’ll take the win. Thanks to Ovechkin turning the tide.