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Richards Scores Winner As Caps Defeat Arizona, 3-2

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The Washington Capitals scored twice in 26 seconds to seize a 3-1 third period lead, including Mike Richards first goal as a Cap, and then held on to win, 3-2, over a fast and structured Arizona Coyotes club.

Richards tally came after Tom Wilson alertly charged the cage following his hard shot that handcuffed goalie Louis Domingue (31 saves). The biscuit was laying to the immediate right of the Coyotes goalie and as he tried to cover it, his defensemen shoved his stick under Domingue’s glove just as Wilson was storming the crease. The puck popped into the slot and #10 pounced on it and buried it for the eventual game winning goal.

Alex Ovechkin had given the Capitals the lead for the first time in this contest moments earlier after an Evgeny Kuznetsov feed (1 goal, 1 assist). The Gr8 stickhandled the biscuit in the left wing circle and then waited for an opening to laser it through a maze of Arizona defenders off of Domingue and into the net. The Gr8’s goal was his 39th of the season and he now has 55 points on the season. He continues to find different ways to score key goals and it once again came in a tight contest where the outcome was still in doubt.

The Coyotes, who are coached by former Capital Dave Tippett, would not go away and they cut the margin to one with 10:17 remaining on a shot off of a faceoff where Braden Holtby was screened (25 saves). The Holtbeast would then be forced to make a sprawling glove save shortly thereafter to preserve the lead. After that though, the Caps shut things down and really gave Arizona no good chances until the final horn.

Richards and his linemates, Jason Chimera and Wilson, were the stars of this night with their play. The former Flyer and King took advantage of the opportunity presented to him with Marcus Johansson under the weather, centering the third unit. Chimera was flat out on Mach Two all night flying from the very first shift where he might have scored on a breakaway if not for the biscuit bouncing all over the Wizards ice (and that was a common theme in this one). The third line generated numerous scoring chances and all three did a great job on the penalty kill, as well.

The Caps took far too many of the lazy infraction variety on Monday night, including three in the first frame. Overall the Coyotes had six power plays and a total of 10:30 of man advantage time. That is way too much and the coaching staff cannot be happy with the undisciplined play in this one. There is no blaming the referees for the penalties they took as the film will not lie.

Fortunately, Washington’s PK was outstanding as Arizona only had three shots on goal in all of the power play time. Let me say that again, Arizona only had three shots on goal in 10:30 of man advantage time, WOW! The Caps had two shots on goal during those shorthanded situations, including a sweet dangle and backhand near goal by Richards late in the middle frame. Richards was simply outstanding in this game and earned the number one star of the night.

The Caps recently struggling power play did get the team even on its first attempt in the second period when Kuznetsov shot from the right wing circle while most thought he would dish the biscuit off to Ovechkin or elsewhere. It was a heads up play by the young Russian who now has 62 points on the campaign. Washington had three other man advantage situations and had some good looks, but could not connect. Overall, the Capitals had 11 shots on goal in four opportunities, so the goals will come if they keep piling up the shots like that.

Holtby was strong in net and he made a great save on a Coyotes two on one rush right before the Ovechkin and Richards tallies. You need your goalie to come up big in tight contests and the Holtbeast delivered, once again. He has now won 38 games this season and is 30-2-3 in his last 36 starts with a 2.22 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.

This victory improves Washington to 44-10-4 for 92 points on the season. Simply put, this club just finds ways to win and they are fun to watch.

Enjoy the ride, there are seven more weeks until the playoffs begin, so sit back and take in what has so far been one of the most amazing seasons in NHL history.

Notes: Arizona scored the first goal, when the Capitals made a bad line change that gave the Yotes a three on two rush, but the Caps found a way to win again after allowing the opening tally. Washington is a NHL leading 16-9-4 when allowing the first goal…Matt Niskanen led the Caps in ice time with 23:25, but John Carlson played 23:17…Richards logged a season high 15:58 (15 games) and he had five shots on net. Most of them were quality scoring chances…the Caps had a tough night from the dot, going 33-41 on draws…Michael Latta tied for the team lead in hits with four (Carlson) in just 4:41 of ice time. The fourth line was shorted all evening because the Capitals took WAY TOO MANY PENALTIES. That needs to be cleaned up!..next up for the Caps are the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday at the Verizon Center at 7 pm.

The post Richards Scores Winner As Caps Defeat Arizona, 3-2 appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.


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