The Washington Capitals protected their home ice with a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. It was one of their better peroformances. The fourth line produced two goals, the penalty kill only let one in, and Alex Ovechkin made power play goal history.
The Caps wasted no time. With the fourth line on the ice, Travis Boyd flung a pass along the boards, to Devante Smith-Pelly as he quickly whiffed it to a charging Jakub Vrana to put the Caps in front 1-0 at 2:44. Vrana has five points in five of his last seven games and the goal was his fourth goal of the season.
Great work all-around from the Fourth Line! #ALLCAPS #CapsOilers pic.twitter.com/SpLQL21dux
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 6, 2018
The fourth line was at it again at 5:44. Boyd fed DSP for his second goal of the season.
That Fourth Line is at it again! #ALLCAPS #CapsOilers pic.twitter.com/c4UQuZlfzM
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 6, 2018
Connor McDavid sniped a goal on the power play to cut the defict in half.
Goal for McDavid, but he still doesn't have any many points as Boyd and #Caps are still up 1-0
Stream #CapsOilers live: https://t.co/Wn6LWyeTGx pic.twitter.com/HvqmfTUM2T
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 6, 2018
Caps headed into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead. Their PK got a kill but let one in and they got a power play opportunity toward the tail end of the first period. Matt Niskanen served time in the sin bin for hooking McDavid at 6:13. Alex Ovechkin was called for slashing agaisnt Jujhar Khaira at 9:04 which led to McDavid’s PPG. Leon Draisaitl slashed John Carlson at 18:03 and was sentenced to the pit of misery. Dilly dilly! The Oilers outshot the Caps 12-11.
T.J. Oshie put the Caps up 3-1 at 8:11 off a slick pass from Nicklas Backstrom. Oshie’s seventh goal of the year.
Lucky number 7 for 77 (that Backstrom pass tho)! #ALLCAPS #CapsOilers pic.twitter.com/Q7a5cAVQnB
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 6, 2018
Leon Draisaitl responded quickly to get the deficit back to one.
👎
Stream #CapsOilers live: https://t.co/Wn6LWyeTGx pic.twitter.com/na2JvKWxAm
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 6, 2018
At 8:38, DSP was called for delay of game for playing the puck out of play but another successful kill happened. The Caps got their turn at 12:24 when Adam Larsson slashed Oshie and Ovechkin made them pay with his 11th goal of the year. The power play goal was Ovechkin’s 234th of his storied career which tied him with Carcel Dionne for eighth on the all-time list.
Ovi's at 11. That'll tie him at the top of the league. #ALLCAPS #CapsOilers pic.twitter.com/cVPSL4GMZ0
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 6, 2018
The score after the middle stanza would be 4-2 Caps. Shots were even steven at 10. The Caps held off the Oilers including late in the game. After Backstrom was called for boarding against Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at 18:57, they staved off a late power play attack with their goal empty to seal the win. The Caps were outshot 11-2 in the final period but the defense was the difference.
The Caps will host the Penguins on Wednesday Night Hockey. We’ll be there. Will you?