In Backstrom’s return, Capitals force point but fall in overtime to Blackhawks

The Washington Capitals fought and got a goal late to force overtime and a point but in a wild night in the Windy City it was the Chicago Blackhawks who came out on top 5-4.

The first period was scoreless with the Caps leading in shots 13-6. In the second period Alex Ovechkin made more history at 3:36 with his 21st goal of the season. It came on the power play tying the NHL record for power play goals. It was his 274th which matched Dave Andreychuk. It came on a shot from where else but his office assisted by T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom.

The Blackhawks later had a five on three power play and tied it at 13:55 from Alex DeBrincat. Philipp Kurashev got a power play goal of his own at 14:13. The Blackhawks made it 3-1 at 14:29 with a goal from MacKenzie Entwistle.

In the McNugget minute the Caps pulled to within 3-2 thanks to Lars Eller setting up Daniel Sprong with a snipe at 19:18 for his fourth goal of the season. That was the score after two as the Caps led in shots 19-12.

At 11:57 in the third the Caps tied it thanks to Eller’s drive to the net. It was assisted by Oshie and Conor Sheary. DeBrincat gave the Blackhawks the lead at the 15 minute mark on another power play goal.

Then at 19:57 the Caps got another McNugget minute goal. Sheary was waiting by the net and cleaned up the rebound thanks to Marc-Andre Fleury not able to corral the puck with his legs. It was assisted by Ovechkin and John Carlson. 4-4 was the score after three with the Caps leading in shots 13-8.

The Blackhawks got the win in overtime thanks to Caleb Jones at 1:21. It was the Caps second loss to the Blackhawks this season, the other coming in home ice during a shootout. The Blackhawks outshot the Caps 2-1 in overtime while the Caps led in shots overall a whooping 46-28.

There was a silver lining in this game, Backstrom made his season debut. He said this after the game:

“Everything felt good. The hip felt good. It’s just haven’t played a game in awhile so it will take a couple games to get my timing back and stuff but we battled back for a point, that’s important.”

Oshie was glad to have Backstrom back too:

“His leadership, his poise, his hockey sense on the ice, everything was big for us today and for being off as long as he was, I thought he had a great game and it is always nice lining up next to 19 out there.”

The Caps take on the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.