That title is probably a bit hyperbolic and not gonna lie, the vibes were pretty bleak coming into his game, and I think collectively we really had no idea what direction it was going to go. But the boys showed poise and maturity, collecting 2 points against the Washington Capitals and have now gotten 9 out of a possible 10 in their last 5 games.
Luke Hughes led the way with a goal and an assist, Nemo and Bratt tallied the Shootout winners, Jake Allen stood tall in a mostly strong game against our divisional rivals form he Nation’s Capital.
Weird First Period
The Caps took 3 penalties within the first 8 minutes to really disrupt any semblance of getting into a 5 on 5 flow – and frankly it was a huge boon for the Devils getting into the game on the front foot. Of all the potential ways this game could’ve gone, I didn’t have 3 power plays in 8 minutes on my bingo card, but we take those. The Power play itself was a little disjointed, but it really settled in during the third PP where our burgeoning star Grits unleashed a preposterous rocket that Thompson never even saw. Luke fed it to him on a nice little platter and it’s 1-0 good guys.
LOOK AT THAT THING! LOOK AT IT!
The play calmed down somewhat and settle into solid but unspectacular lock down hockey. I’d imagine it would’ve looked a little different if we played the whole period at 5v5 but we didn’t so we do not care.
On a somewhat weird sequence, Ovechkin laid a questionable hit on Bratt and with the players seemingly expecting a whistle, Luke just casually strolled in and wired one top shelf. First, quick question for the ref that was standing right there: Did you not notice that? Second, Luke has been pressing for a goal, so it was good to see him get on the board – albeit on a weird series of events, and looked like he said something like “dagnabbit” about Bratt, and you could really tell the injuries piling up are pressing not these guys. And finally, Lukey boy is on the board, he really needed that one.
They got to room up 2-0 in a very thorough, professional period over all.
Late 90s Devils’ Hockey
If you’re a yougin’ you hear all of us olds talk about the 90s Devils with mythical reverence. And you got a taste of what it was like during that 2nd period – pure suffocation. We gave them NOTHING, killed zone exits, closed gaps, even the Caps broadcasters were getting audibly frustrated with how little space there was for them to maneuver. Good, we don’t like you either. What shots did eventually get to Allen, he swallowed, kicked out and we swept away out of danger. The closest the Caps came was on their lone power play, with Allen making a nice pad save on a netfront rebound.
The best chance in the 2nd for the good guys came after Bratt dog walked Chycrun, went hard to the net and Nico got a great rebound that Thompson got a leg on. Sidebar: Canada would be NUTS if they don’t bring that guy to Italy.
Got to the room, still up 2-0 and cruising.
SHUT IT DOWN
Narrator voice: They did not shut it down as the Caps came alive in the 3rd with several good chances including a breakaway from Wilson. Devils were on their heels and just totally unsettled relative to the first two periods – the caps passed the Devils in xGF at about the 7 minute mark. We really didn’t generate much of anything – just a few cycle chances that died and a couple of rush chances that also died.
The Caps got on the board early in the third on a broken play that started with a failed clear along the right wing boards. The puck came back below the Devils goal and Ovi made a nice power move – with Allen swimming and Luke caught in no mans land – he found a clean McMichael in front with a gaping cage.
You could feel their second of the night coming and sure enough at 8:29 of the third Ovechkin cashed in. Using his girth, cultivated over years by Subway and Doritos, he got a feed in the slot, boxed out Luke and spun sneaking one under Allen’s pad and we are tied. That man is a tank, and not much you can do about it.
Off to OT We Go
Coming into this game, I would’ve taken the point all day. But mid second I got greedy and a said to myself “Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor??!” I WANTED this win, needed it for the vibe shift.
It was a somewhat low event OT, the Caps got next to nothing, and the best chance we got was snuffed out by Thompson on Nemo for a rebound. Paging team Canada again.
Since we are suddenly shootout gods, why not. The usually reliable Paul Cotter decided to shoot, Bratt scored on a disgusting filthy preposterous move and our new hero Nemec finished them off. Allen was rock solid stopping two of three including the greatest goals scorer to ever live.
We got the two points. They don’t ask how, they ask how many. We are on to Florida with a pitstop at home to hopefully pick up Dougie and Brown.
Some Scattered Thoughts
-It’d be super cool if we could do one of these in regulation – Luke played 29 minutes AGAIN
-We may see some blendering (it’s a word) as we go here to find the right combos. None of the lines were particularly standout
-I’ve completely lost the plot on where we stand in terms of IR/Cap space. Might need to bring in NASA
-I have been VERY impressed with the simplicity in White/Cholo pair. Steady, off the glass, dump in and stand your ground hockey.
-We are going to need more from several guys, Cotter stands out the most to me.
-Nico is clearly nursing something, his game does not look crisp at all.
That’s it gang, we got the W – keep stacking wins, what’d you think of the game tonight?
LGD