Can the Washington Capitals make it a longer losing streak for the Flyers while extending their win streak?
The Washington Capitals gained some semblance of redemption Thursday night against the rival Flyers, as they would win the game 5-3. Why was their redemption? Because they were given the same situation as they had against the Devils on Tuesday where they had a 4-1 lead heading into the 3rd period. This go around they wouldn’t let it make it to overtime, instead would depend on a 4th line grinder, Nic Dowd, to have a great night and an empty net to secure the win.
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The game started out looking to be more of a defensive struggle than anticipated. When the anchor of the Capitals Alex Ovechkin took a juicy rebound on the unsuspecting Flyers and shot a dagger past Brian Elliot to start the scoring. Just a few minutes later the Flyers would take advantage of a PP and fake Samsonov out of his pads to tie up the game with over 8 minutes left to go in the first. This would only last a little over a minute with Conor Sheary getting a breakaway and squabbling it through.
The second period would be all Washington Capitals, with a goal from a familiar contributor in John Carlson finding an opening as both he and Elliot drifted across the ice. The next score would be from the unlikely fast skating effort of Nic Dowd cutting in front of the crease and finding a hole by way of a Flyers skate. This put the game in their hands with a three goal lead, but this is the Capitals so normally this wouldn’t be enough.
With the Capitals allowing two goals from the Flyers within the first half of the 3rd period, they were one goal allowed away from a Tuesday repeat. It appeared the Capitals had again found their way off the gas pedal, but the effort was present just not the execution. So the Flyers brought it within a goal with nearly half the period remaining. In the end, it took a near full ice shot from Dowd to put the final nail in the coffin for the game.
Again the Capitals got contributions from all fronts with four different goal scorers, five different assisting players and all coming from top to bottom of the roster and even with some key contributions from the blue line. Provided the Capitals can keep it up they can carry this win streak into the weekend and beyond. But there is one thing they will need to locate to be true contenders through the end of the year, that’s a killer instinct to shutdown a team from start to finish instead just to the second intermission.
If the Capitals don’t make some mid game adjustments they might see their win streak may end at three in a row. They were lucky that the Devils were a one game occurrence, with their Saturday night game coming against the Flyers they may be subject to a little more trouble. The Flyers were finding ways to take what the Capitals were giving them and making every chance count. The Capitals will need to come out of the gate with some adjustments already as their opponent is better prepared and fresh in facing them.
Will the Capitals continue their streak of winning and help the Flyers continue their streak of losing? Can the Capitals figure out how to play a full 60 minutes? Here is how to follow along:
Date: March 13, 2021
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Center
TV Broadcast: NBC Sports Washington
Radio: Caps Radio 24/7
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