Caps Back on Winning Track After OT Triumph

Good morning and happy Wednesday, February 1st... where did January go?!

Congrats to our readers who predicted the Kings vs. Hurricanes or Senators vs. Canadiens game would have the most goals scored last night in yesterday's poll. Their 9 goals each bested the Capitals vs. Blue Jackets who only scored a total of 7 goals last night.

The Washington Capitals have qualified for the NHL playoffs for eight consecutive seasons and are keenly aware they have to play better to earn a ninth.

The Capitals hope they’ve returned to the right path Tuesday night when they  downed the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime. Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the game-winner to end the Capitals’ three-game losing streak.

Coach Peter Laviolette’s squad had not been performing like a playoff team. Since Dec. 29, they are 7-7-1. Even with their win against the Blue Jackets, the Capitals are only 4-6 in their last 10 games.

The Capitals (27-20-6) have to feel fortunate to be holding one of the two wildcard playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The field has been gaining ground on both the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins in the wildcard. But the Capitals still have a four-point lead over the closest non-playoff team.

Washington ranks 10th in goals-against average (2.83), but 17th in goals scored per game (3.11).

Defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk posted the first two-goal game of his NHL career against the Blue Jackets. He said the Caps talked before the game about the importance of going into their extended NHL All-Star break on a winning note.

Van Riemsdyk said the Capitals are looking for a “little positive vibes when we come back for the home stretch.”

The Capitals don’t play again until Feb. 11 against the Boston Bruins.  Injured Washington forwards Tom Wilson and Nic Dowd are expected to be back in the lineup after the break. Dowd hasn’t played since Jan. 16 and Wilson has missed the last three games. Wilson has only played eight games this season because of offseason surgery.

🌀 Carolina Hurricanes rally in the third and finish the Kings in overtime for 6th straight win. The Hurricanes were down 4-1 at the start of the third period but were able to force overtime thanks to goals from Paul Stastny, Jordan Staal, and Teuvo Teravainen (watch all 3 goals here). And Sebastian Aho sealed the come-from-behind victory with a one-timer on the power play with just 54 second remaining in overtime, extending his goal streak to 5 games. 

📈 Ottawa Senators extend their winning streak to four games thanks to Tkachuk's late goal. The Sens came out flying, up 2-0 just four minutes into the first period thanks to goals by Claude Giroux and Tim Stutzle. Alex DeBrincat scored in the second, Tim Stutzle added his 2nd of the night in the third, and Brady Tkachuk scored with 1:18 remaining in regulation (watch here) for the 5-4 win. The Senators don't play until February 11th against the Edmonton Oilers.

Late Bobby Hull leads the Chicago Blackhawks in goals all-time with 604 but who leads the franchise in points all-time?

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• 🚨 Sebastian Aho sends the Kings home with one-timer in OT

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Stan Mikita leads the Chicago Blackhawks franchise in all-time points with 1,467.