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With Connor Buddha Mohammad Jehovah Jesus Zoroaster McDavid in town, and the Capitals’ injury-riddled defense looking like cheese from Geneva, the home team still managed to get it done defensively for a 2-1 victory.
Here’s Friday night’s Plus/Minus:
Plus: Tonight was a night of inclusion! (More on that below) And included in that including inclusion we should include the phenomenal play of Dmitry Orlov and Evgeny Kuznetsov, too.
Minus: A few of the new call-ups still have that New Rookie Smell, and got exploited early on by Edmonton. No harm, no foul, though, and most of these kids now have the coolest experience of their lives to talk about forever.
And now, this..
I made a Very Important Chart, plotting #Capitals players Skill vs. Looks as a spectrum. pic.twitter.com/o2glxYoxm6
— Jason Rogers (@HeyJayJRogers) February 25, 2017
Ten more notes on the game:
1. Like any Hollywood blockbuster worth its popcorn salt, this one began with a beautiful man scoring. Tom Wilson picked up a sneaky-deaky drop pass from Dmitry Orlov, skating to the top of the circle, and fired a Barrett .50 cal snipe that beat Cam Talbot high and gave the Caps a 1-0 lead early.
2. That was it for the first period, but the Oilers came out in the second with a crude, grimy response worthy of their name. Leon Draisaitl, Man Whose Name Sounds Like a Breed of Quarterhorse, potted the tying goal just 53 seconds into the period to make it 1-1. Draisaitl, Wet Reins, I always say.
3. Adhering to the One Goal Per Period policy implemented by Chairman Ted, the second wound down and the third kicked off, the game to be settled in the final act like a Scorsese film.
4. Who else but Mr. Third Period-…..excuse me, I mean, Mr. Game 7, Justin Williams, gave the Caps the lead back. J-Dub aka Just Win pounded home a piledriver like he was building a bridge, giving Washington the 2-1 lead off the clapper.
5. Aaaaand, that was it! The Capitals streak of 5-goal machinegun fests at home ends at 11 games. Is was bloody fun, and bloody, fun, while it lasted.
6. Braden Holtby, once again, was stellar. The should-be-back-to-back Vezina winner saved 30-of-31 for a .968 save percentage. I mean, we’re talking against Edmonton, with the entire defense hurt. This cat is otherworldly. The Galactic Tabby.
7. So, in a matchup between high-flying Washington and young-and-sexy Edmonton, everybody predicted a 2-1 defensive battle, right? LIARS! Turn in your badges!
8. Taylor Chorney and Hershey call-up Aaron Ness filled the holes on the blue line, in place of the physically and/or emotionally damaged Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik. Paired with Orlov, Chorney held his own, and Ness kept up with Nate Schmidt in some real tough assignments. All this will give hope to Brian MacLellan, Barry Trotz, and the Caps as they face an uncertain offseason and the looming free agencies of Karl Alzner and Dmitry Orlov.
9. Congratulations to Riley Barber! The rookie got his first ever NHL start tonight, recording two shots in just under ten minutes of ice time. Welcome to the Big Show, rook; now, go grab my bags.
10. Tonight was Washington’s turn to take part in the ongoing festivities of Hockey Is For Everyone month. You Can Play (an organization I contribute to, full disclosure), who strives for the inclusion and welcome of LGBTQ athletes in sports – and whose motto, quite dopely, is “If you can play, You Can Play” – led a bunch of special efforts. Rainbow-colored Pride tape adorned many sticks in warm-ups, and Braden Holtby sported a specially painted mask for the occasion. In addition to the LGBTQ love, the American Special Hockey Association held a skills demonstration during the second intermission. Generally, it was just awesome seeing hockey – a sport of misfits and playing hurt – embrace those who understand those things all too well. Good on ya, NHL and the Capitals. Hockey is for everyone, damnit.
This is a win that bodes very well for the future. Get well soon, Bura, Oshie, Orpik, Nisky……am I forgetting anyone? Next up is the Predators on Saturday afternoon in Nashville.