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Playoff preview? After 2-1 loss to Flyers in shootout, Capitals might hope not Playoff preview? After 2-1 loss to Flyers in shootout, Capitals might hope not
(35 minutes later)
PHILADELPHIA — They slammed each other into the boards and then pushed each other around some more for good measure. This was a rivalry mixed with future playoff potential, and if it does work out that the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers play each other in the first round of the playoffs, expect more of the bruising and tight-checking game the teams played Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center. PHILADELPHIA — They slammed each other into the boards, jabbed one another with their stick and, occasionally after the whistle blew, there were often a few more shoves for good measure. There’s a good chance the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers will be first-round playoff opponents, and this preview played up to the billing. And the more desperate team won.
It was decided by a shootout, and after T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov were stopped, the Flyers won, 2-1, with made strikes by Nick Cousins and Sam Gagner. Goaltender Braden Holtby starred right up until that point, making 33 saves. It was decided by a shootout, and after T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov were stopped by goaltender Steve Mason, the Flyers clawed to a 2-1 victory when Nick Cousins and Sam Gagner solved goaltender Braden Holtby on a night Holtby was sharp, making 33 saves.
His two dynamic Russians had been struggling to score, so Capitals Coach Barry Trotz joined them together. Maybe they would help each other climb out of their respective funks. “We played all right,” Holtby said. “I thought they were probably the better team tonight though. We have to realize that, realize that we have a lot more to give than that. If we play like that, it’s leaving a lot up to chance because they’re a possible first-round opponent. We know we can be better, and we will be.”
As a power play was expiring early in the third period, Kuznetsov’s seam pass from the goal line to Alex Ovechkin floated to his sweet spot in the left faceoff circle. Like he had so many times before his career, Ovechkin wound the puck back and fired it forward, beating Flyers goaltender Steve Mason. That broke a scoreless tie and pushed the Capitals ahead, 1-0.
Washington’s offense has been sputtering recently. The Capitals had been shutout in consecutive regulations over the weekend for the first time in more than four years. Reliable stars like Ovechkin and Kuznetsov were enduring slumps, with Ovechkin having just two even-strength goals in the 15 games entering Wednesday’s — and a minus-seven in that span. Kuznetsov was without a point in his last five games.
Trotz put them on a forward trio together, hoping they would spark one another, and it happened on the power play. But after Washington didn’t commit a single penalty in the second period, the Capitals were called for three minors in the third. Shorthanded after a Marcus Johansson hooking penalty, Washington yielded the tying goal after Brayden Schenn tipped in a Claude Giroux blast. That set the stage for overtime.
If the postseason started now, the Flyers would be the Capitals’ first-round opponent. The previous two meetings between the teams were split, both decided by one goal. The potential for a future series was enough to inject urgency into a Washington locker room that had no other reason for it. Everything clinchable had been clinched, right up to the Presidents’ Trophy.If the postseason started now, the Flyers would be the Capitals’ first-round opponent. The previous two meetings between the teams were split, both decided by one goal. The potential for a future series was enough to inject urgency into a Washington locker room that had no other reason for it. Everything clinchable had been clinched, right up to the Presidents’ Trophy.
The Capitals wanted to make a statement with a win in the Flyers’ arena, not wanting Philadelphia to have confidence in case the two would meet again in April. Trotz said he thought the team was looking forward to the challenge, and unlike a few weeks ago, he thought the Capitals were ready for it now. The Capitals wanted to make a statement with a win in the Flyers’ arena, not wanting Philadelphia to have confidence in case the two meet again in April. But that manufactured urgency still couldn’t compare what Philadelphia — still fighting for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference — was actually feeling.
What changed? The defense had gotten better, significantly limiting teams’ chances in the last three games. With defenseman John Carlson back from a lingering lower-body injury, the Capitals shutout the New Jersey Devils and held them to just 22 shots on goal. Two games later against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Trotz estimated Washington had allowed just eight dangerous scoring chances for the game. [Future postseason foes? Capitals see Flyers as a challenge]
The defense flexed its muscle again through two periods, but this time, Holtby had done most of the work. With both teams scoreless, Holtby robbed Philadelphia on several point-blank chances, especially early in the second period. He kept the team in it while the offense started to cook later in the period and get more offensive zone time. “The biggest difference in two teams is probably the desperation level on Philadelphia, and ours probably wasn’t as high,” Coach Barry Trotz said. “And it probably shouldn’t be — human nature and all that.”
This kind of performance from Holtby was encouraging, building on a string of good showings lately. After a hot start to the season, Holtby’s save percentage and goals-against average dipped after the all-star break. Trotz said it was no different than a skater that goes through a brief scoring slump, and Holtby was just having to weather the adversity of the puck not looking like a beach ball anymore. His two dynamic Russians had been struggling to score, so Trotz paired Alex Ovechkin and Kuznetsov together. He figured that maybe they would help each other climb out of their respective funks. Ovechkin and Kuznetsov were both enduring slumps, with Ovechkin having just two even-strength goals in the 15 games entering Wednesday — and a minus-seven in that span. Kuznetsov was without a point in his previous five games.
He had no trouble seeing it through two periods on Wednesday, saving all 23 shots he saw. He hadn’t allowed more than two goals in five of his last six starts entering the game against the Flyers. As a power play was expiring early in the third period, Kuznetsov’s seam pass from the goal line to Ovechkin floated to his sweet spot in the left faceoff circle. Like he had so many times before his career, Ovechkin wound the puck back and fired it forward, beating Mason. That broke a scoreless tie just 1 minute 28 seconds into the third period.
But after Washington didn’t commit a single penalty in the second period, the Capitals were called for three minors in the third. Shorthanded after a Marcus Johansson hooking penalty, Washington yielded the tying goal after Brayden Schenn tipped in a Claude Giroux blast. That set the stage for overtime.
[Fancy Stats: Why the Caps should want to face Islanders or Rangers]
There, the Capitals got a power play just 32 seconds in after Kuznetsov drew a trip by Wayne Simmonds, but Washington got just one shot on goal. One attempt by Nicklas Backstrom pinged off the post.
“It’s a huge advantage, but I think we had maybe like two shots,” Ovechkin said. “We have to put more pucks to the net. We’re going to talk about it tomorrow, I think. It’s hard to lose obviously. Hurts for Holts because we want to win for him.”
The loss was disappointing for the Capitals, but that Washington played a team with its season on the brink to a shootout — when the Capitals didn’t have that motivation — could be encouraging for a playoff meeting when urgency will be organic for both parties.
“We’ve got one more level, too,” Backstrom said.