Capitals Postgame: Winning Streak Grows; Is Strome The Best So Far?

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It seemed doubtful at times, but the Capitals secured their third-straight win Sunday — and there was plenty to take away from the team’s 3-1 win over the Sharks.

Strome and Wilson’s 3rd Period Goals Lift Capitals Over Sharks

Dylan Strome Shining For Capitals

If there’s been one positive to the Capitals’ average start to the season, it’s been the growing impact of Dylan Strome.

Opening the season as the team’s third-line center, Strome jumped to the first line as part of some lineup shuffling and hasn’t looked back. The 26-year-old entered Sunday possessing the team’s lead in goals, and was tied for second on the team in total points.

Strome came up with the pivotal game-tying goal in the third period against the Sharks, which was the first step toward the Capitals’ eventual 3-1 victory.

right down the middle pic.twitter.com/Ozx5V0mqyI

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 29, 2023

Through eight games, Strome is already more than a quarter of the way to matching his goal total from a season ago. He has yet to tally an assist, but his offensive output has been key with TJ Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom having slow starts offensively.

Capitals Disciplined In Win

The Capitals went on the power play three times Sunday night. The Sharks can’t say the same.

In fact, the Sharks never had a man advantage at any point during the game. The Capitals did not draw a single penalty during the game — a tremendous 180 after entering Sunday averaging nearly five per game.

And especially after three power plays, head coach Spencer Carbery thought for sure that a call against his team was coming. 

“There’s no question when you get three power plays like they’re looking for a slash, trip, anything,” Carbery said, “and we stayed real disciplined through that so we didn’t have to kill one off session that third period.”

Ultimately, the team’s discipline was a key factor in the Capitals pushing their winning streak to three games.

Haman Aktell’s First NHL Point

Hardy Haman Aktell, who’s currently caught in the Capitals’ left defense carousel, tallied his first NHL point Sunday.

Haman Aktell dished to Strome ahead of his game-tying goal at the two-minute mark of the third period.

Dylan Strome hits the back of the net with a shot from way downtown, tying it up at 1 for Washington!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/1DYq5CmLxI

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 29, 2023

Haman Aktell was a scratch in the Capitals’ past three games, swapping with Alex Alexeyev on Sunday.

“We wanted to see him as a staff again, back at home,” Carbery said of the decision to shuffle the lineup. “I thought he was solid tonight.”