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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. Brooks Orpik couldn’t tell he scored at first, because bodies were blocking his view of the net. A prototypical stay-at-home defenseman, Orpik had never scored a game-winning goal in his career, but when the goal horn sounded, he saw Alex Ovechkin turn toward him with a wide smile. A little stunned, he was then sandwiched by Ovechkin and Dmitry Orlov, both swallowing him in a hug.
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. “I know our bench. If we could’ve gone out to the blue line to hug Brooks, we all would have if we wouldn’t have gotten a penalty for it,” Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said. “I think they all respect how hard he works, and he’s one of the glue guys in our whole room.”
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. For three months, Orpik watched his teammates celebrate thrilling goals like this one. But he had to watch from afar, out for 40 games with a lower-body bone injury. On Saturday, he was the center of a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils.
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. “It’s a little more fun,” Orpik said of being back in the lineup. “It’s not even necessarily the goal celebration. No matter who you are, whether or not you’re involved in the celebrations or not, I think just being a part of what we’re doing here is a little more satisfying when you’re contributing on the ice.”
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. [Braden Holtby’s numbers have dipped slightly]
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 defenseman didn’t have a goal all of last season, but this marked his second of the year and his first two-point game with at least one goal since Nov. 26, 2008. In his third game back from injury, Orpik played 21 minutes 2 seconds and was on the ice for every Washington goal.
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. He and Orlov were paired as a way to manage Orpik’s minutes after being out for so long, but the duo have complemented each other so well that the team’s three defensive pairings have achieved a balance — every blue-liner played more than 15 minutes but less than 22. Orlov had two assists Saturday.
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. “We wanted to bring Brooks in a little bit slower,” Trotz said. “He’s actually stepped up and probably played a little bit more than we expected. Him and Orlov have played so well together that it’s refreshing to see that maybe we have three pretty good pairs.”
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 marriage of Orlov and Orpik makes sense. Orpik is defensive-minded, typically staying back in the offensive zone. Orlov has plenty of offensive skill, but he can occasionally be a defensive liability. They also can empathize with each other because Orlov missed all of last season after a wrist injury and understands how frustrating Orpik’s recovery has been.
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. “We just try to play for each other and help each other,” Orlov said. “It’s worked for three games. We have a good game tonight, and Orpy had a goal and an assist. It’s awesome.”
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. New Jersey and Washington entered the third period tied at two goals apiece. Just past the midway point, goaltender Braden Holtby was beaten by New Jersey’s Reid Boucher, whose knuckleball of a wrist shot deflected off the glove of Holtby, who finished with 21 saves in what was a rocky performance.
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. Less than three minutes later, Devils goaltender Cory Schneider had similar bad luck, with T.J. Oshie attempting a shot from his knees and somehow banking it in off a New Jersey defenseman’s skate. Just more than two minutes after that, Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov set up Orpik for the decisive tally with 3:58 remaining.
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. When Orpik was out of the lineup, Washington continued to win. The Capitals are still winning with him back on the ice and nearly have a healthy lineup for the first time since early November. That’s a daunting thought for a team that has 90 points through 57 games.
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.