The Washington Capitals beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 at home on Monday night, a much-needed victory after eight games with only three wins. Spencer Carbery recorded his 100th victory a well-deserved milestone as head coach. The Capitals looked better than in recent games, and the defense kept them in the game from start to finish. Let’s look at a few things the team and fans can take away from the win.
Charlie Lindgren stood tall
There was perhaps no player more deserving of an MVP title than goaltender Charlie Lindgren. He has just two wins in his six games this season, and this one was exceptional. The netminder faced 31 shots, all but one of which he saved: a power play goal. He posted a save percentage of .968 (SV%), his highest in the last five games. Without Lindgren’s strong presence, the Capitals would not have been able to secure their victory.
Defense steps up
Defense was the key in this match, both on the blue line and in front of the net. The first goal of the game was by Matt Roy, a defenseman, who played six seasons with the Kings. It was his first goal of the season. Another blueliner, Jakob Chychrun, scored a point with the secondary assist on Alex Ovechkin’s goal in the second period. Chychrun is on a four-game points streak and has a total of fourteen points this season.
The defense also came up big at the back. They registered four goals, eleven blocked shots, six shots on net and three takeaways. They held their own against a talented Kings forward and held them to just one goal. The Capitals defense has been strong all season and is a great asset to the team.
Line Shakeups have found their groove
After the recent mediocre success, a shake-up was in order, and Carbery supplied. Connor McMichael joined Ovechkin and Dylan Strome on the top line, taking Anthony Beauvillier’s place. He took McMichael’s third line lock. Newcomer Justin Sourdif centered the second line, flanked on either side by Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson. Usual fourth-liner Nic Dowd was bumped to the third line, with Hendrix Lapierre coming into his place.
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With personnel changes on every line, it wouldn’t have been surprising if things were bumpy for the Capitals. However, the players adapted quickly and seemed to find chemistry from the start. Two shots on target, and Roy’s goal came in the first four minutes of the match. The home team scored a total of 25 shots on target. Carbery is expected to keep these lines relatively even after playing such a solid game.
Special teams still need work
Fortunately for Washington, this was a disciplined game from both teams. The Kings only took two minor penalties and the Capitals only three. They continue to struggle on special teams, and last night was no exception. The Capitals failed to score on any of their man advantages, dropping the Kings’ lone goal on a penalty kill.
It seems like it will take a lot of effort to shape Washington’s special teams, but something has to be done. Their stellar five-on-five performance was overshadowed by their struggling defense on the penalty kill and inability to score on the power play. If they can hone this and be successful on special teams, they will be a force to be reckoned with from the puck drop to the final whistle.
This much-needed victory ensures that both the team and the fans breathe a sigh of relief. It’s still early in the season, but the Capitals should continue this momentum as they play back-to-back against the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens and close out the week against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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