This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/capitals/brooks-orpiks-surprise-two-point-game-lifts-capitals-over-devils-4-3/2016/02/20/e836dca0-d745-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brooks Orpik’s surprise two-point game lifts Capitals over Devils, 4-3 | Brooks Orpik’s surprise two-point game lifts Capitals over Devils, 4-3 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| For three months, Brooks Orpik watched his Washington Capitals celebrate thrilling goals in this dream season. Orpik, sidelined with a lower-body bone injury, rooted for his teammates but from a distance — he was no longer on the bench with them. | |
| He made up for lost time Saturday night, assisting on a third-period equalizer before scoring the game-winner with less than four minutes remaining of a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. | He made up for lost time Saturday night, assisting on a third-period equalizer before scoring the game-winner with less than four minutes remaining of a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. |
| The defenseman didn’t have a goal all of last season, but was in the middle of a celebratory Capitals scrum after his first two-point game with at least one goal since Nov. 26, 2008. | The defenseman didn’t have a goal all of last season, but was in the middle of a celebratory Capitals scrum after his first two-point game with at least one goal since Nov. 26, 2008. |
| The Capitals found themselves in a deficit before Orpik stepped up. Just past the midway point of the third period, goaltender Braden Holtby was beaten by New Jersey’s Reid Boucher, whose knuckleball of a slap shot went off Holtby’s glove at the 11:04 mark for a 3-2 New Jersey lead. | The Capitals found themselves in a deficit before Orpik stepped up. Just past the midway point of the third period, goaltender Braden Holtby was beaten by New Jersey’s Reid Boucher, whose knuckleball of a slap shot went off Holtby’s glove at the 11:04 mark for a 3-2 New Jersey lead. |
| But before that tally was officially announced over the Verizon Center speakers, Devils goaltender Corey Schneider had similar bad luck, with T.J. Oshie attempting a shot while down on the ice and somehow banking it in off a New Jersey defenseman’s skate. Orpik and Dmitry Orlov were credited with assists. Less than three minutes later, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov set up Orpik for the decisive tally. | But before that tally was officially announced over the Verizon Center speakers, Devils goaltender Corey Schneider had similar bad luck, with T.J. Oshie attempting a shot while down on the ice and somehow banking it in off a New Jersey defenseman’s skate. Orpik and Dmitry Orlov were credited with assists. Less than three minutes later, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov set up Orpik for the decisive tally. |
| After surrendering too many chances in the first period, Washington recovered in the second period. The Capitals are so far ahead in the conference that virtually no one can challenge them, while New Jersey is more desperate, still fighting for a playoff spot. That was reflected with how the Devils played in the first 20 minutes, outshooting Washington, 14-8, and taking a 2-1 lead into the second period. | After surrendering too many chances in the first period, Washington recovered in the second period. The Capitals are so far ahead in the conference that virtually no one can challenge them, while New Jersey is more desperate, still fighting for a playoff spot. That was reflected with how the Devils played in the first 20 minutes, outshooting Washington, 14-8, and taking a 2-1 lead into the second period. |
| The Capitals drew even midway through the frame when Michael Latta passed a puck through traffic in the crease to Kuznetsov, who beat Schneider high on the glove side. | The Capitals drew even midway through the frame when Michael Latta passed a puck through traffic in the crease to Kuznetsov, who beat Schneider high on the glove side. |
| Kuznetsov raised his right hand and twirled a finger, celebrating his 17th goal of the season and one that tied the game 9:16 into the second period. | Kuznetsov raised his right hand and twirled a finger, celebrating his 17th goal of the season and one that tied the game 9:16 into the second period. |
| The Capitals were happy with how they played the New York Islanders on Thursday night, allowing just 13 shots in the last two periods and in overtime. They had been hopeful that the game was the first step to them returning to their style of hockey after falling into a February lull with some sloppy play. | The Capitals were happy with how they played the New York Islanders on Thursday night, allowing just 13 shots in the last two periods and in overtime. They had been hopeful that the game was the first step to them returning to their style of hockey after falling into a February lull with some sloppy play. |
| But against the lowest-scoring team in the league, Washington struggled in the first period. Fifteen minutes and 28 seconds into the period, Kyle Palmieri carried the puck into the Capitals’ zone, and Holtby over-committed to the left side to stop it. | But against the lowest-scoring team in the league, Washington struggled in the first period. Fifteen minutes and 28 seconds into the period, Kyle Palmieri carried the puck into the Capitals’ zone, and Holtby over-committed to the left side to stop it. |
| But Palmieri skated behind the net before kicking the puck out, and Holtby couldn’t recover. He dove across the crease, and was out of position when Travis Zajac punched in a goal with traffic in front of the net. | But Palmieri skated behind the net before kicking the puck out, and Holtby couldn’t recover. He dove across the crease, and was out of position when Travis Zajac punched in a goal with traffic in front of the net. |
| Holtby’s counterpart for the Devils is a fellow Vezina Trophy candidate, Schneider, who entered the game second in the NHL in goals-against average and fifth in save percentage. What New Jersey lacks in offense it often makes up for in defense, allowing the fewest goals per game in the league. | Holtby’s counterpart for the Devils is a fellow Vezina Trophy candidate, Schneider, who entered the game second in the NHL in goals-against average and fifth in save percentage. What New Jersey lacks in offense it often makes up for in defense, allowing the fewest goals per game in the league. |
| On the Capitals’ first power play chance halfway through the first period, Schneider stopped two thunderous Alex Ovechkin slap shots from his sweet spot in the left faceoff circle. But less than two minutes after the Devils scored, Dmitry Orlov fed Ovechkin in front of the crease, somehow left all alone. He shot the puck through Schneider’s legs for his 38th goal of the season. | On the Capitals’ first power play chance halfway through the first period, Schneider stopped two thunderous Alex Ovechkin slap shots from his sweet spot in the left faceoff circle. But less than two minutes after the Devils scored, Dmitry Orlov fed Ovechkin in front of the crease, somehow left all alone. He shot the puck through Schneider’s legs for his 38th goal of the season. |
| Just as Washington nearly escaped the first period tied, with less than 30 seconds left until intermission, Palmieri scored from a wicked angle, a wrist shot at the goal line, the puck bouncing into the net off Holtby’s shoulder. Holtby pounded the ice with stick. | Just as Washington nearly escaped the first period tied, with less than 30 seconds left until intermission, Palmieri scored from a wicked angle, a wrist shot at the goal line, the puck bouncing into the net off Holtby’s shoulder. Holtby pounded the ice with stick. |