Connect with us

Capitals Takeaways

Takeaways: Capitals Complete Wild Comeback For Huge Win vs. Islanders

After going down 3-0, the Washington Capitals rallied back and found a spark thanks to Alex Ovechkin as New York Islanders. Here are all the takeaways.

Published

on

Down 3-0 to the New York Islanders in a key division matchup and seemingly out of answers, the Washington Capitals needed to find a spark. Alex Ovechkin provided it, and one hit proved to turn the tide.

Ultimately, Washington rallied from down 3-0 to force overtime and guarantee a critical point, and the Captials completed the comeback thanks to a beautiful OT winner from Dmitry Orlov.

Here are all the takeaways from the 4-3 victory, which puts D.C. up four points on the Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Alex Ovechkin Sparks Washington Capitals, Who Rally From 3-0 Deficit & Ugly Start

The start wasn't pretty by any means. Tthe Capitals lacked life to start and let the Islanders control the game. Sebastian Aho and Matt Martin got things going quickly against Washington and made it 2-0 after the first, and Hudson Fasching added to the ambush in the second to make it a 3-0 game.

Then, in the second, Alex Ovechkin stepped up to provide a spark, and it started with a big hit along the boards.

Ovechkin delivered a heavy hit on Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the corner, which had been reviewed for a penalty but was ruled clean.

After that, Washington, who was down 3-0, caught fire. Garnet Hathaway kicked things off, pushing in Ovechkin's rebound while being taken down to make it a 3-1 hockey game.

Soon after, Tom Wilson would get his first goal of this season after returning from ACL surgery four games ago off a nice feed from Nicklas Backstrom, who now has two assists in four games.

After the second, the Capitals, who had just eight shots halfway through that frame, were now outshooting the Islanders 19-17.

Washington kept the momentum going into the third period, and T.J. Oshie scored the game-tying goal early in the third as the team continued to be aggressive on the forecheck. Erik Gustafsson fired a nice shot from the point that Oshie tipped in front to make it a 3-3 game.

Orlov completed the comeback with the OT winner off a beautiful breakaway in the 3-on-3.

Washington Capitals Finish Strong, Don't Let Up

After taking control, Washington stayed with it. Ovechkin was double-shifted with Dowd out, and his line with Hathaway and Marcus Johansson at center looked strong and had some great looks.

The Capitals piled on the pressure and kept things going, the defense stepped up and Kuemper came up with some huge ten-bell stops to keep the team in it, including one off a breakaway in OT.

Orlov ultimately won it after sustained pressure from Oshie and Sonny Milano, who played a stellar game. After the second, Washington outshot the Islanders, 30-19.

That's the kind of hockey that the Capitals have been looking for over this stretch, and it seems thay got back their its style that had been missing for these last few games.

Washington Capitals Lose Nic Dowd To Injury, Darcy Kuemper Shaken Up

Washington lost Nic Dowd to a lower-body injury in the opening minutes after a huge hit from Cal Clutterbuck appeared to catch him in the left hip/left leg. He crawled off the ice and went down the tunnel in pain, and after coming back out for a quick twirl, he went right back to the room and did not return.

Then, in the third, Darcy Kuemper was shaken up after making a huge stop on Fasching and also appeared to get clipped by Backstrom in his crease. Athletic trainer Jason Serbus came out to talk to Kuemper, who ultimately stayed in, but still a scary moment for the Capitals after already losing a crucial center early in the game to injury.

More Ice Chips

– Oshie has goals in two of his last three games.

– With his 20th assist of the season, Ovechkin now has 50 points this year.

– Milano had a heck of a showing in front of several friends and family back home on Long Island, and he got an assist on Orlov's winner.

Lars Eller was a healthy scratch for the first time this season as Dylan Strome drew back in. Eller could slot back in on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild if Dowd isn't available.

– The power play remains 0-for-10 over the last five games.

– Gustafsson again led all skaters in ice time as he continues to fill in for an injured John Carlson.

– Wilson led with seven shots and also had seven hits, but Martin Fehervary was the hits leader with nine.

– Marcus Johansson has points in two of his last three games.