It is difficult to overestimate the importance of Washington’s home match against New Jersey. The Devils were two lines higher in the Eastern Conference and four points ahead of the capital. On the other hand, this meeting was no different from previous ones. For example, against Montreal or Colorado.

And all because Spencer Carbery’s team no longer has the right to make mistakes. The coach reminded his players of this in early February at a separate team meeting, when Washington was on a six-game losing streak. After a serious conversation, the Caps players played four matches and got 5 points.

To consolidate this local success, the Capitals needed a victory over New Jersey, a direct competitor in the fight for a place in the playoff zone. And Carbury’s team managed not only to get two important points, but also to do it confidently. Alexander Ovechkin played a key role in this, scoring an assist, scoring a double, and also setting a new record.

The capital team’s turnaround is definitely due to Ovechkin leading the Caps’ offense. The Russian now has 8 goals in his last eight matches. He managed to score the same number in his starting 45 games.

Ovechkin scores a double – Washington wins

Unfortunately for Washington fans, conceding in the first minutes of a game has become the norm for the Caps. But the game at Capital One Arena against New Jersey stands out from this rule. Already in the 39th second of the match, Connor McMichael made a successful finishing move after Alexey Protas’ throw and opened the scoring. The home team held a minimal advantage for almost 15 minutes until Alexander Holtz lit the red light behind Charlie Lindgren.

An equal first period and a good game by the Capitals were overshadowed by the injury of Nik Dowd, who managed to play only seven shifts. This is a painful blow for Washington, given that two other key centers, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom, left the club. It seemed that New Jersey would take advantage of the situation, because the opponent’s bench was not the longest anyway.

Moreover, the Caps started the second period playing shorthanded. But Carbery’s team held out, and then in the 25th minute McMichael, who was responsible for Dowd’s duties, scored a double. For Washington, the goals of the 23-year-old forward are definitely good news, because not only the veteran core should produce results.

And yet, the home leaders could not sit idle in such an important match. Early in the final period, Dylan Strome’s pass from Ovechkin increased the Capitals’ lead to two goals. And after a few shifts, the Russian forward himself distinguished himself. Strome, according to Kuznetsov’s notes in the attack zone, won a throw-in against his captain, and Washington’s number 8 almost immediately with a wrist shot into the far upper corner almost broke the goal net – 4:1.

Alexander Ovechkin / Photo: © Patrick Smith / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Usually, with such a score, the Capitals begin to practice parking the bus, but this time the hosts pleasantly surprised their home stands. Carbery’s team continued to run forward and create dangerous chances. And as a result, in the middle of the period, the Devils conceded again after a shot from Michael Sgarboss.

The impression was that this match was important only for Washington, but it was also important for New Jersey to get two points, although this was not noticeable in the game. Nevertheless, the Devils managed to reduce the gap in the 56th minute of the meeting, upsetting Lindgren for the second time. True, the visitors’ goal was more like a desire to lose not with a crushing score.

At the end of the meeting, the “devils” were left in the minority for the first time in the match. Washington took advantage of the opportunity and showed 100% execution: Strome burst into the attacking zone and passed Ovechkin to the far post, and the Russian completed a beautiful combination, scoring a double without goals into an empty net for the first time this season.

Thus, the capital’s captain now has 838 goals in his career, and Wayne Gretzky’s record remains 56 effective shots. In addition, the forward extended his points streak to nine games and ranked 3rd in goals scored on home ice. Ovechkin (412) has surpassed Jaromir Jagr (411) in this indicator and is now aiming for the records of Gordie Howe (449) and Gretzky (492).

As for Washington, Carbery’s team is now 6 points behind Detroit, which occupies 8th place in the East, but has a game in hand. In addition, the Capitals have clearly improved their scoring chances: for the first time in more than a month, the Capitals scored at least five goals in one game and scored six goals for the first time since October.