Ethan Bear scored his first goal with Washington as the Capitals put together a fast, impressive effort for two key points.
WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals learned from their last game against the Anaheim Ducks that there's no room to let off the gas. So on Tuesday, they kept their foot on the pedal, and it paid off big time.
The Capitals put together one of their most consistent games of the season, keeping their feet moving and finding the speed and spark they desperately needed without captain Alex Ovechkin for the third straight game. It was enough to grind out a 2-0 win.
Here are all the takeaways from the win, which puts D.C. one point out of Wild Card territory for the time being.
Capitals Start Strong & Stay Strong, Ethan Bear & Tom Wilson Get On The Board
The Capitals got off to one of their best starts of the year, and in turn, it led to one of their best periods.
Washington was doing everything right. All four lines were buzzing, as the Capitals showed grit and battle, made tape-to-tape passes, kept their feet moving and sustained pressure for the entirety of the frame.
Ultimately, it paid off in a go-ahead goal late in the first, as Ethan Bear scored on a rebound with 37 seconds left. It marked Bear's first as a Capital and first since Jan. 15, 2023 (36 games, 366 days). The 25-year-old was active all night and totalled three shots.
Tom Wilson iced the game in the final minute with an empty-netter.
The Capitals were able to keep that speed going throughout the entire night, leading to a key win.
Top Line Of Pacioretty-Strome-Oshie Stays Hot Amid Ovechkin's Absence
With Ovechkin missing his third consecutive game due to a lingering lower-body injury, Washington again needed its top players to step up and provide some offense. Head coach Spencer Carbery has struck gold there, with the top line of Max Pacioretty-Dylan Strome-T.J. Oshie coming up big once again.
The "OPS" trio was excellent against Anaheim. It sustained significant pressure each shift, got to the right areas, battled hard for every puck and kept play alive. Oshie, Pacioretty and Strome each have a role to play, and the three read off each other very well to generate high-quality chances.
Oshie picked up an assist in the win, and he now has points in three straight and five of the last six games overall.
Darcy Kuemper, Defense Solid To Hold Off Ducks' Late Push
Washington did a solid overall job shutting down the Ducks through the first 40 minutes, winning foot races for the puck, tying up their sticks and keeping the puck out of harm's way. Sustained offensive zone time didn't hurt, either, but in the final 20, Anaheim made quite a push.
When Darcy Kuemper was needed, he came up with the necessary stop and ended the night with 24 saves for his first shutout of the season and 31st of his career. He was especially sharp when Anaheim made a push in the third, and also had a notable late save on Alex Killorn to keep his team in front.
Alex Alexeyev was also solid in his first game back in the lineup after 24 consecutive healthy scratches, as he skated 16:41 minutes.
Top Shelf Takes
- Nic Dowd has points in six of his last nine games and added an assist on Wilson's goal.
- Wilson finished wth four goals in two games against the Ducks this season.
- Carlson led with four shots on goal