Kuznetsov, Caps bust out of scoring slumps to beat Oilers originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
WASHINGTON — The Capitals were looking for a breakout performance from their offense and they got it Monday, exchanging blows with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers to snap their four-game losing streak and pull off a 5-4 win.
Playing in the 500th game of his career, McDavid showed why he’s one of the best players in the NHL with an impressive goal off Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren. However, it was the Capitals who were lighting the lamp all evening with their first five-goal performance since scoring six Oct. 24 against the New Jersey Devils.
The Capitals took advantage of their power-play opportunities with four scores on the man advantage, three in the second period. Dylan Strome scored a pair of goals and Evgeny Kuznetsov notched his first two of the season, giving Alex Ovechkin — who scored a power-play goal of his own — some much-needed offensive support.
Here are three takeaways from the Capitals’ victory against the Oilers.
Strome gets Capitals going
The final score might suggest otherwise, but the first period nearly went by without a single goal from either side. It wasn’t for a lack of trying; each team generated 11 scoring chances and one shot by Capitals forward Sonny Milano was called back on a replay review.
Strome would’ve been credited with the primary assist on that goal, but instead he got the Capitals on the board first by himself. He stole the puck away from Oilers forward Warren Foegele and beat goaltender Stuart Skinner with a top-shelf shot over his right shoulder.
That gave the Capitals the momentum heading into the second, which proved to be pivotal as the two teams combined for five goals in the period. Strome then struck again to make it 2-0 with a tap in upfront set up by a strong pass off the stick of Evgeny Kuznetsov.
With three points on the night, Strome registered a new season high. His six power-play points thus far this year put him one back of Ovechkin for the most on the Capitals’ roster.
Kuznetsov, Ovechkin add insurance
Entering the game with seven assists this season, Kuznetsov has made an impact on the offensive end. That impact just hadn’t come in the form of goals until Monday, when he scored his first two of the season.
After McDavid made it a 2-1 game in the second, the Oilers picked up a pair of costly penalties that gave Washington a 5-on-3 for nearly two full minutes. The Capitals ended up needing only 19 seconds of it as Strome set up Kuznetsov to return the favor from earlier.
Ovechkin had been held off the scoreboard for the first half of the game, but McDavid’s goal appeared to ignite something in him. He worked the puck on several entries to create rushes and set himself up for chances at a few vintage goals. Skinner managed to stop those, but Ovechkin still had ole reliable.
Kuznetsov later iced the game with another score in the third period off a slick pass by Ovechkin between his legs.
Lindgren comes up clutch
The Oilers didn’t generate a ton of shots on goal through the first two periods, but they made their chances count. Edmonton fired off 29 shots, but scored four times including McDavid’s, well, whatever this was.
Edmonton then closed the gap to 4-3 three minutes into the final period when the puck took an unfortunate bounce off Ovechkin’s skate and set up winger Zach Hyman for an easy feed to center Leon Draisaitl right behind Lindgren.
That’s when Lindgren put on the straps, stopping the 11 of the final 12 shots he faced with the lone goal coming after Edmonton pulled its goalie.
With the win, the Capitals moved to 6-6-2 on the season. Their schedule pits them up against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins next on Wednesday.
