Capitals bounce right back with convincing win over one of the East’s best: numbers for the morning after

The Washington Capitals had been powerful luck losers at house on Thursday evening to the Dallas Stars so two factors would have carried out them a world of fine in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs two days later. They obtained simply that with an eventual 5-2 last rating.

Massive win.

• I used to be fairly darn proud of the general effort on this sport in opposition to a Leafs workforce that has received a complete ton of video games over their final twenty or so. The stat sheet has the five-on-five scoring possibilities lopsided in Toronto’s favor 37 to 22 however as I mentioned within the recap I don’t actually purchase that in any respect. I at all times really feel silly questioning stuff like that although as a result of it’s simply math on the finish of the day however it actually didn’t really feel just like the Caps had been getting dominated like that when watching. Most likely, as a result of they weren’t.
• Nonetheless, Charlie Lindgren‘s efforts should nonetheless be praised. Chuck got here up with one other win, this time stopping 34 of 36 photographs he confronted. MoneyPuck had him saving 1.2 objectives above anticipated within the outing which was much better than the -2.3 that Ilya Samsonov pitched within the opposing internet.
• The large story of the night was Erik Gustafsson scoring his first three objectives of the season and first three with the Capitals in the identical sport after not scoring in 31 video games prior. He’s solely the third Caps defenseman in franchise historical past to document a hat trick and the primary since Sergei Gonchar in 2000. Solely he and San Jose’s Erik Karlsson have hat methods from the blue line within the NHL this season.

• Sonny Milano recorded three assists within the victory. Milano now has 14 factors in 20 video games for the reason that Caps acquired him in free company for mainly free {dollars} and free-fty cents. If he had been to maintain up that tempo over a full 82-game NHL slate, he’d put up 57 complete factors. It is a man that Calgary lower from a PTO within the preseason and each workforce let undergo waivers as soon as he signed in DC.
• I assumed Nick Jensen had an extremely good sport. He was noticeable in all three zones and actually pushed the tempo in opposition to a workforce that likes to play that model of hockey. With him on the ice at five-on-five, the Caps held constructive differentials in shot makes an attempt (+1), scoring possibilities (+4), and high-danger possibilities (+4).
• Not a complete lot occurring for Alex Ovechkin on this one as he’s nonetheless trying to chase down Gordie Howe. Solely two photographs on objective and 4 complete shot makes an attempt for The Nice Eight.

Numbers due to Hockey-reference.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.