We're back with one more look back on the Washington Capitals 7-4 win over the New York Rangers. We've looked at the top 3 studs and it's time to grade that explosive Capitals offense. Dylan Strome, Lars Eller, Andrew Mangiapane, Connor McMichael, Alex Ovechkin, Aliaksei Protas, and Tom Wilson all had the goals.
The win also further protected home ice, extending their home point streak to eight games. It marks the team's longest home point streak since a nine game run in 2018-19 where they went 7-0-2 from Feb. 5 through March 20.
Washington's top four goal scorers all scored in this contest. Alex Ovechkin upped his goal total to 19. Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas are now at 17 while Tom Wilson is at 16. Ovechkin would also net career goal number 872 to be 22 goals away from tying and 23 away from passing Wayne Gretzky.
Ovechkin also passed Hall of Fame defenseman Raymond Bourque (1,579) for 12th place on the NHL's all time scoring list as his goalwas the 1,580th point of his career. It was the first time they scored a touchdown in a game since Nov. 30 when they scored six on the New Jersey Devils in a 6-5 win.
It's a #Gr8 time to remind you that Ovi is three game-winning goals away from the most in NHL history #ALLCAPS | @Verizon pic.twitter.com/u2dCaFZX6b
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 4, 2025
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery spoke after the game via Mike Vogel of WashCaps.com:
"Probably not the way that we drew it up, but tons of twists and turns in it. From a coaching standpoint, I feel like the second period was where we got to work, and we got down to business. The first period, we weren't very good and I thought we were very fortunate to get out of that at 1-1. The power play scores a huge goal late, and LT (Logan Thompson) with some very big saves. And our guys did a tremendous job of responding in that second period and finding a way to flip that game because it wasn't looking good in that first period. "Spencer Carbery
Grade A: Other than that first period the Capitals turned it on in the second and third. He's right about the bad first period whih prevents it from being an A plus but still pretty good effort in a big win over a Metropolitan Division rival. You have to win those no matter where your rival is in the standings.