Capitals: Alex Ovechkin hat trick leads to Game 1 win in our NHL 20 simulation
The Washington Capitals overcame a two-goal first period deficit leading to a 6-4 win behind Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
The opponent that the Washington Capitals drew in our virtual NHL 20 world was (as weird as this sounds) the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres struck for two goals in the first period to go up 2-0 and silence the virtual home crowd at Capital One Arena. Jack Eichel struck first at 3:09 to put the Sabres up 1-0. The goal was assisted by Sam Reinhart and Jeff Skinner.
The Sabres added another at 6:14 from Brandon Montour assisted by Evan Rodrigues. They would get in penalty trouble and the momentum would shift to the home side shortly after.
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Former Capital Marcus Johansson was called for a hooking minor at 8:28. The Caps struck on the attack to make them pay with Alex Ovechkin rebounding in his own shot in front of the net. Nicklas Backstrom and Richard Panik had the helpers.
The Caps trailed 2-0 after 20 but had the edge in shots 17-4. They got another power play chance later in the period but couldn’t cash in.
The Caps turned it on in the second period with two goals before the Sabres tied it with eight seconds left. Lars Eller fired a shot downtown for his first goal of the playoffs at 12:28. Michal Kempny and Braden Holtby had the assists.
Ovechkin would notch his second goal of the game on another rebound goal right in front of the net to put the Caps ahead 3-2. We love this version of Ovi just grinding it out in front of the goal. Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie had the helpers.
Shane Bowers tied the game with eight seconds left to send this game into the third period deadlocked at three goals. The Caps led in shots 27-11.
In the third period the Caps added to their lead and Holtby helped withstand a late-game push from Buffalo. Ovechkin completed the hat trick at 2:30 to set the crowd off and unleash the hats.
Backstrom added to the lead at 4:47 off assists from Ovechkin and Dmitry Orlov. Backstrom added his second of the game at 8:09 deflecting in a shot from Nick Jensen. Kempny had the secondary assist and the score was 6-3.
The Sabres added two goals in the last minute to make things interesting. Evan Rodrigues, a current Penguin, scored with 53 seconds left and Jeff Skinner pulled them within one with nine seconds to go.
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It wasn’t enough as the Caps hung on to a 6-5 Game 1 win. Check back tomorrow to see how they do in Game 2.