capitals goal

The Capitals were desperate to get a road win to ensure their road trip would end with a winning record. To make matters worse, they were without their captain and top goal scorer Alexander Ovechkin, who was scratched with an upper-body injury. Nevertheless, the Capitals won 7-0 in a game in which the Capitals took over after the first period. The Capitals were outplayed in the first period, getting out-shot 8 to 4 and out-hit 12-5. However, the Capitals still went into the first intermission up 1-0 thanks to a Nicklas Backstrom goal.

A beautiful goal there from Backstrom. Nate Schmidt made a huge heads up play to keep that puck in the zone. Schmidt and Erat were credited with the assists on Backstrom’s goal. That was Schmidt’s third of the season and Erat’s fourth. The Capitals took over the game in the second period, and it all started with a goal just 1:24 into the period from Joel Ward.

Just a gorgeous play there by the third line, which was arguably the Capitals’ best line during their road trip. Jason Chimera and Mikhail Grabovski were credited with the assists on Ward’s goal. That was Chimera’s 4th assist on the year and Grabovski’s sixth. The Capitals struck again just a minute and twenty seconds later courtesy of a Jason Chimera goal.

I feel like I’m repeating myself, but man do I love this third line. Mikhail Grabovski was credited with his second assist of the night, and his seventh of the season. Nicklas Backstrom would score just over a minute later 3:49 into the second period. Joel Ward got his second goal of the night 16:25 into the second period.

Third line is really really good, you know the drill. Grabovski was credited with his third assist of the night and eighth of the season. Jason Chimera was also credited with an assist, his second of the night and fifth of the season. Just under two minutes later, the Capitals scored yet again, this time courtesy of Troy Brouwer.

Shockingly, that was the Capitals’ first power play goal of the evening. Amazing setup by the Capitals power play on that goal (Brouwer’s fourth of the year). Mike Green got his eighth assist of the season and Nicklas Backstrom got his eleventh of the season. The Capitals would score again 5:23 into the third period, with Joel Ward completing his hat trick.

That was Ward’s first career hat trick. Congratulations to the Soul Brother! Jason Chimera got his third assist of the night and sixth of the season, and Eric Fehr got his fourth assist of the night.

The craziest thing to happen during the game was not the seven goals that the Capitals scored without Ovechkin. It was a goalie fight.

Courtesy of welshcapsfan
Courtesy of welshcapsfan

Cheap move by Emery. This was a part of an epic line brawl. I always enjoy looking at the penalty minutes given out during situations like this, so here you go:

  • Ray Emery – 2 minutes for leaving the crease (served by Claude Giroux)
  • Wayne Simmonds – 5 minutes for fighting Tom Wilson
  • Steve Oleksy – 5 minutes for fighting Vincent Lecavalier
  • Vincent Lecavalier – 5 minutes for fighting Steve Oleksy
  • Tom Wilson – 5 minutes for fighting Wayne Simmonds
  • Ray Emery – 2 minutes for instigator
  • Ray Emery – 5 minutes for fighting Braden Holtby
  • Braden Holtby – 5 minutes for fighting Ray Emery
  • Ray Emery – 10 minutes (Game Misconduct)
  • Brayden Schenn – 5 minutes for fighting Alex Urbom
  • Brayden Schenn – 10 minutes (Game Misconduct)
  • Alex Urbom – 5 minutes for fighting Brayden Schenn
  • Vincent Lecavalier – 10 minutes (Game Misconduct)
  • Alex Urbom – 10 minutes (Game Misconduct)
  • Steve Oleksy – 10 minutes (Game Misconduct)
  • Aaron Volpatti – 10 minutes (Game Misconduct)

Yikes. The Capitals wound up winning 7-0. That’s the first shutout of the season for Braden Holtby, who really did a great job keeping the Caps in the game until the scoring outburst. The Capitals are back in DC tomorrow to play the Florida Panthers.