The image on the left is a very minimalist way to show the capitals of Washington that rule over the gold seals in California. Although this would not be any recent revelation, this photo may have meant a lot on March 28, 1975. It was not the fact that the capitals were right with the two-game season series with the Golden Seals, nor was it even a meaningful game when it came to play-off positions. Both teams would miss the play-offs that season, and the entire season 1974-75 there was one that Washington Capitals fans would like to forget, despite that season from the team of the team. So why was this game so important? And to which head do I refer?
If you know your hockey history, you already know that I am talking about the Washington Capitals team that has set an NHL record for meaninglessness. They were not only bad at 8-67-5 that season, they finished 20 points back of the Kansas City Scouts for Dead Last in the NHL. The head, however, that shocked me was that the Capitals of Washington finally did something that they had not done on March 28 The Canadian press Decided to lead with something else that seems less historic.
Look, I don’t take anything away from Eric Vail’s NHL season that he completed in 1975, but the more historic part of that whole passage is the part that I was isolated on the right where the Washington Capitals won their first road race of the season on March 28, 1975. That victory on the road on the road would be on the road. For the record, Atlanta Flames Forward Eric Vail has won the Calder trophy, but if I hadn’t told you, would you have known?
As described in the article, Doug Mohns scored a Power-Play goal at 3:04 of the first period before they doubled their lead 1:08 later when Ron Anderson Gilles Meloche defeated a 2-0 lead. Butch Williams from California would cut the lead in two when he scored at 3:57 PM, but the capitals would restore the lead 52 seconds later when Gord Smith scored to bring the score to Washington after 20 minutes of play.
Charlie Simmer would make it a 3-2 match with the only goal of the second period, and it felt like this game might get away from Washington when Dave Gardner 5:05 scored in the third period. Howver, a few goals from Nelson Pyatt at 6:31 and in the empty net with at 19:44 According to WTOP News”[t]He gave capitals a spontaneous celebration after the victory, a waste can from the dressing room of the visitor and parade around the ice rink. This would later be known as the ‘Stanley Can’ celebration ‘.
I have no idea who wrote the copy The Canadian press That night, but how on earth did not lead about Eric Vail’s game? I get that Vail had a big season with 39 goals in 1975, but the capitals broke a 17-game Losing Streak and a 37 game Road Losing Streak with their victory. In their last four games they would go 1-3-0 to end with a .131 winning percentage, the worst, by far, in the NHL history. Yet Eric Vail was the head on March 29, 1975.
The crazy part is that the capitals almost earned their first road point on March 1, 1975 against the Toronto Maple Leafs when Stan Gilbertson scored with 4:45 to place the Captitals 4-3 on the Maple Leafs in Toronto. Dave Keon, however, would score at 6:35 PM to turn it into a 4-4 game, and it seemed that this game could end in a draw.
With seven seconds on the clock, however, there was a scramble for the Washington that Ron Low occupied. Despite several players fighting for the puck, it would be George Ferguson who found the loose puck and beside him low ride to give the Maple Leafs the 5-4 victory, so that the hope of Washington ended their way misery at 33 games without point. It seemed like it would never end.
You may wonder how the next games went when the capitals came so close, and I am here to tell you that they lost 8-4 to Montreal, 12-1 from Pittsburgh, 8-2 to Boston and 5-1 to Los Angeles before they finally conquered the Golden Seals. Throughout the season, the capitals on the road only lost three times through one goal, so say that it was a rough season away from Landover, is pure understatement.
In one way or another, however, Eric Vail’s score is scoring The Canadian pressThe head of the most historical victory in the franchise history of Capitals.
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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