Caps 4, Chicago Blackhawks 3 (OT)
Well, that was an action-packed Sunday. The Caps fell behind 3-0. Star forward Alex Ovechkin was ejected for boarding at the 12 minute, 16 second mark of the first period and will have to wait to hear about any extra discipline from the NHL. He’s already been fined and suspended by the league this season and ejected from three games.
But goalie Jose Theodore kept the Caps close. And when Brooks Laich scored early in the third period on a rebound it opened the flood gates. Nicklas Backstrom scored 2:03 later. Just 13 seconds after that David Steckel made the hustle play of the game — getting to a puck behind the Chicago net to prevent an icing call. He beat defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, fought him off as well as forward Jonathan Toews and hit Eric Fehr in the slot for a one-timer. Just like that the United Center crowd was stunned and the game was tied 3-3.
That set up Backstrom’s game-winning goal in overtime — an inside-out move on defenseman Brent Seabrook and then a quick shot between defenseman Duncan Keith and forward Dustin Byfuglien during a 3-on-2 break. The NHL’s quietest superstar made up for the absence of his star linemate. He scored two goals, assisted on another, put four shots on goal. He blocked two shots and had three hits and three takeaways. Other than losing nine of 13 faceoffs there’s little more Backstrom could have done.
Backstrom now has 83 points overall. That is fourth in the NHL, just four behind Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby. He is also fourth in assists (55). Backstrom has shattered his own record for goals scored with 28. His previous best was 22 last year. He is also a +31 on the season. Five more points and he ties his career high set last season (88). The 22-year-old — a restricted free agent this summer — just keeps making stats that should give him piles of money when his new contract is completed.
Have to give it up to Theodore, too. He is 14-0-2 dating to Jan. 13 and the Caps have won all four of his starts since the Winter Olympics break ended. He stopped 20 of 23 shots against the Blackhawks, but allowed just one goal after the first period to keep his team in it. In his four recent starts Theodore has stopped 101 of 108 shots.
Washington is 46-14-9 with 101 points. There are three games left on this road trip starting Tuesday against the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. The Caps sit 14 points ahead of second-place Pittsburgh (41-23-5, 87 points) — one step closer to home-ice advantage through the first three rounds. Will have more on the Ovechkin hit on Monday morning along with a few other posts, including who the Caps are looking at as potential playoff opponents.
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