Photo: X/@Capitals
The Washington Capitals had one of their slower games against the San Jose Sharks. It was a very chippy affair with not a lot of quality looks for either side. Luke Kunin gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead and it stayed like that until about two minutes into the third period, when the red-hot Dylan Strome had the equalizer two minutes into the third.
The Caps piled on the pressure late in the third and Tom Wilson earned the go-ahead tally in a net-mouth scramble, and the Capitals went on to win their third straight game, defeating the Sharks 3-1.
Here is how it went down.
PERIOD 1
It was a slow start to the game for both teams. However, the Sharks got on the board first thanks to Luke Kunin stuffing home a puck that took a bounce off the boards, giving San Jose the early lead at the 8:20 mark. The Sharks did not score a goal in two straight games prior to Kunin’s tally. Ty Emberson and Mario Ferraro had the helpers.
Drumroll, please… 🥁
We present to you a #SJSharks goal highlight‼️ pic.twitter.com/vQRAdEPJrs
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 29, 2023
The Capitals got the game’s first power play after Ferraro was called for high sticking. Washington had lots of good chances because of its movement, but Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood stood pat.
The Caps outshot the Sharks 12-10 after the first 20.
PERIOD 2
Martin Fehervary went to the locker room about a minute into the period after taking a hit. He was falling down and Tomas Hertl’s knee caught Fehervary’s head. He did return to the bench mid-way through the period.
Washington got its second power play of the game early in the middle frame. It was not as effective as the first one. The Caps could not get enough sustained zone time and they had a tough time gaining entry into the zone.
The home team once again was put on the man-advantage. Alex Ovechkin had a glorious chance on the backdoor, but Blackwood stonewalled him at the post, and the power play came up empty for the third time.
The Capitals outshot the Sharks 13-11 in the middle stanza.
PERIOD 3
Washington came out humming to start the third period and got rewarded, by none other than Strome. He fired a puck on net from the high slot with Wilson setting the screen in front of Blackwood. The puck squeaked through the five-hole and the game was knotted up at one.
Nick Jensen had the primary assist and Hardy Häman Aktell picked up his first NHL point picking up the secondary apple.
RELATED: Hardy Häman Aktell Records First NHL Point With Assist On Dylan Strome Goal
right down the middle pic.twitter.com/Ozx5V0mqyI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 29, 2023
Strome now has six goals in eight games and has tallies in three straight games.
The Capitals picked up the pace at the end of the third and fired lots of pucks on net. In a wild scramble in front of Blackwood, Wilson bounced the puck off of the San Jose netminder’s back and it found its way behind him, giving the Caps a 2-1 lead. It marked No. 43’s 300th career point.
#ALLCAPS 2-1. TOM WILSON 300TH POINT!! LETS GOOOO pic.twitter.com/bX6unepsf0
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) October 29, 2023
Evgeny Kuznetsov sealed matters with an empty net tally.
#ALLCAPS 3-1. Kuznetsov ENG! looks like he went to see his daughter after pic.twitter.com/VIJPJJdZea
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) October 29, 2023
Up Next
The Capitals won’t be back in action until Nov. 2, when they host the New York Islanders at Capital One Arena.
By Jacob Cheris
Capitals Postgame Audio