Top 3 Capitals studs against Coyotes
The Washington Capitals defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-0 last night at Mullett Arena. Here are the top 3 studs from the game.
#3 Sonny Milano
I love this kid. Was a big fan of the team acquiring him in October and it has paid dividends. He’s clicked on a line with Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom and Wilson whipped a nice pass to him to double the Caps lead.
Wilson would add the game’s third goal on the power play.
Sonny Milano has eight goals on the season. It’s crazy nobody acquired him over the summer. The Caps and Brian MacLellan hit a home run with this one.
Milano told Samantha Pell of The Washington Post (subscription required) earlier this week:
“First and foremost I want to help this team out, and I am excited about the opportunity that they gave me, and I own that. But definitely there’s a chip on my shoulder, obviously, from how the summer went. I did have something to prove.”
so quick! pic.twitter.com/9PRmB2si1C
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 20, 2023
Last season in 66 games with the Anaheim Ducks, he had 14 goals and 20 assists. For some reason the Ducks decided not to re sign him. He did get a professional tryout agreement with the Calgary Flames in the preseason.
#2 Darcy Kuemper
Darcy Kuemper leads the NHL in shutouts with five thanks to another fine performance last night against his former team. He made 26 saves. That included 12 in the third period to preserve the win.
Capitals Coach Peter Laviolette told the media his thoughts on Kuemper’s performance:
“Really good. Sometimes it is tough in those games where there is not a lot of volume and there is not much coming, it’s even harder to stay focused. When they did have power plays at the end and they were pushing and pressing and he had to be sharp and make some saves, I thought he looked really good.”
Kuemper spoke of his time with the Coyotes, “I really enjoyed my time here and I like coming back.”
For Kuemper it was his 30th career shutout. The Caps five shutouts this season, all by Kuemper, are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for the most in the NHL. Three of the Caps five shutouts this season have come on the road.
For all that doubted him, I think Kuemper has proved himself as the Caps number one net minder from the day he signed with the team as a free agent. Great game.
#1 Dylan Strome
Just days ago he was a healthy scratch. Now Dylan Strome has made an impact of late especially last night against the Coyotes. Like Kuemper, he was against his former team as he was their number three pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Strome told the AP, “We had a tough loss last game so it’s nice to come on the road and win, and against your old team it’s a little bit of a bonus.”
Howlin' redirect pic.twitter.com/JER3o44UY6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 20, 2023
Strome scored two goals. The first was a deflection. The second one was a snipe in front of the net for his 11th goal of the season His 11 goals are tied with Conor Sheary and Marcus Johansson for the second most on the Caps.
Four spot! pic.twitter.com/rD1E4TOFtx
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 20, 2023
I also was a big fan of the Strome acquisition over the summer. He did good on the Chicago Blackhawks centering a line with Patrick Kane and now he’s doing the same thing with an even better goal scorer in Alex Ovechkin.
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I wasn’t a fan of the Strome scratch but at the same time you knew that was going to only last one game as Laviolette was tinkering with his lines. Now he’s making sure he doesn’t get scratched again.