Plus: Anytime you can beat the Rangers it’s a good feeling. The Caps were shorthanded, again, playing one of the best teams in the league (though going through a rough patch currently), and battled hard to a victory. Can’t ask for much more than that.
Minus: The Caps are still shooting themselves in the foot too much with their turnovers in the defensive zone. Both goals against came off of those turnovers. They need to find cleaner ways to get the puck out of the zone.
Key Moment: Kuznetsov has been hated on quite a bit for many seasons and it’s deserved but when he turns it on he’s a joy to watch. Playing on the wing tonight (where he should stay) he looked noticeable better and it came together with his great skating and effort creating a the tying goal with Nic Dowd. The goal fueled the Caps back into the game to take the lead less than two minutes later
Caps Player of the Game: TJ Oshie has had a down year offensively but you just love to watch him play. Unlike the aforementioned player named above, Oshie gives 100% effort every shift, every game. He created a lot in todays game and it was awesome to see him be rewarded with a goal, just his third on the season. Who knows what the future holds for Oshie but we’ll miss the hell out of him.
Final Thoughts: The Caps have been a very good start games basically all season, but the issue is they also give up the first goal more than they score the first goal, and that is deflating. Today wasn’t any different. Great start was stumped by the first goal against.
You have to give the Caps credit. They clawed their way back into a game with out their captain and point leader in Ovechkin. They also are still missing Rasmus Sandin and Sonny Milano, two skilled players in their own right. It was a good response game from the Seattle Kraken battle that the team noted as a game they gave up on too much.
Overall, you have to be pleased with the Caps and their effort. They won’t always win them but if you get this team to play hard every game good things will happen. They play the Rangers tomorrow in New York so the Caps will need to be ready because the Rags will bring it for some revenge.