No injuries, big issues after win over Chicago The Capitals made it through the preseason without any injuries, issues or major distractions. When the first regular-season game is played Saturday at Verizon Center, they will be ready to go.
And that’s the most important goal of any NHL team during the preseason. But it was still nice to end training camp on a positive note. Mathieu Perreault scored a goal and may have cemented his status on the 23-man roster while goalie Michal Neuvirth returned from injury to make 28 saves in Washington’s 4-1 home win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
“I thought it was a pretty sloppy game, frankly,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I thought the Buffalo game [Friday] — other than the three or four turnovers in our zone that gave them chances — was an emotional, into-it game. I thought this was almost like two teams waiting for the preseason to end. And they only brought half their team.”
Brooks Laich, playing center for the first time this preseason, scored a goal off a nice pass from teammate Joel Ward. Mike Green assisted on the first goal — his hard shot trickled past goalie Corey Crawford and was poked home by Perreault — and later added a power-play goal at 16:49 of the third period. Green left the contest late in the second period after taking a shot off his right hand. But he returned and later said it was just a bruise.
“I’m ready to go,” Green said. “It’s taken some time here to adjust back into the flow of things. But these last two games have been good learning steps for me to get ready for the season. I feel great. The team feels like we’re good. A few more things we need to work on in practice this week, but we’re excited.”
Jay Beagle, also trying to earn a roster spot and consistent playing time on the fourth line at right wing, added a short-handed empty-net goal with 73 seconds left to seal the victory. Washington improved to 3-3-1 during a seven-game preseason. The regular season opens at home against Carolina on Saturday night.
