WASHINGTON — Jakob Silfverberg scored the go-ahead objective early within the third interval, John Gibson made 41 saves and the Anaheim Geese handed the reeling Washington Capitals a sixth consecutive defeat, 4-2 Thursday evening.
Washington
Ducks end 6-game skid, hand Capitals 6th consecutive loss
This loss to the last-place Geese, who ended their six-game skid, got here within the aftermath of Washington buying and selling two key gamers. Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Dmitry Orlov and gritty winger Garnet Hathaway had been despatched to the league-leading Boston Bruins for draft picks and depth ahead Craig Smith, the beginning of the primary commerce deadline selloff by the Capitals since Ovechkin’s rookie yr in 2005-06.
“We nonetheless have an opportunity to make the playoffs,” Ovechkin stated. “You by no means know what’s gonna occur. We simply will proceed to play. … Nothing we are able to do. We gamers, we’ve to play the sport and it’s not our job to decide.”
The staff’s struggles in current weeks contributed to normal supervisor Brian MacLellan making the primary of what might be a number of strikes buying and selling pending free brokers comparable to Orlov and Hathaway. Defenseman Nick Jensen, who scored certainly one of Washington’s two targets, might be one other.
Anaheim may even be promoting, however the Geese loved a second of pleasure in a tough season due to targets by Isac Lundestrom, Troy Terry and Silfverberg, an empty-netter by Derek Grant.
“It’s been powerful sledding this yr for us, I feel: numerous ups and downs,” stated Geese middle Ryan Strome, who improved to 7-0 within the NHL towards brother Dylan. “In such a troublesome season, you wish to journey the highs as a lot as you’ll be able to.”
Strome needs Gibson to journey excessive after Anaheim’s long-term beginning goalie made some hockey historical past.
Gibson’s twenty first save gave him probably the most by a goalie’s first 40 video games of the season since Corridor of Famer Jacques Plante made 1,396 for the New York Rangers in 1963-64. Gibson, who has confronted probably the most photographs and made probably the most saves within the NHL this season, made 40-plus stops for a league-leading tenth time.
“I really feel like he’s making 40 saves each evening,” Silfverberg stated. “He’s been terrific for us.”
The Capitals had been booed by residence followers amid a number of turnovers, missed defensive assignments and a minimum of one delicate objective given up by Charlie Lindgren, who confronted simply 20 photographs in his first begin since Feb. 12 — the beginning of this skid.
“It’s been a very powerful stretch right here,” Lindgren stated. “There’s no room for pouting. There’s no room for sulking.”
Ovechkin in his first sport again after lacking the previous week for the loss of life of his father had a couple of high quality scoring possibilities however no factors. He and his teammates wore white and pink stickers saying “Papa Ovi” on their helmets.
“Thanks for staff, thanks for group for help,” Ovechkin stated. “It was a tough time for me, for my household and for all my associates, but it surely’s life and it’s gonna be a reminiscence perpetually and we simply have to maneuver on.”
Terry scored in his first sport again from harm, whereas the Geese performed with out two gamers who’re candidates to be traded: defenseman John Klingberg and winger Adam Henrique, out with lower-body accidents.
Geese: Wrap up this four-game Japanese Convention highway journey on the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday evening.
Capitals: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Observe AP Hockey Author Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
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