📸 : RMNB
The Washington Capitals got back in the win column on Tuesday night, although it wasn’t an easy one. After trailing 2-0, the Caps rallied to score twice in the third period and force overtime, where they won 3-2.
Hopefully, that big comeback fuels a good run of wins. They badly need one.
- I spent most of Tuesday as sick as Alex Ovechkin’s old mirrored visor, so I didn’t watch this game live. After waking up at 4 am and medicating more than the current President, I was able to watch the win and read a lot of what was being said about it. I disagree with the common narrative that the Capitals were “bad” overall in the first period and parts of the second. I think a lot of that consternation is fueled by how horrid the power play still is. At five-on-five, the Capitals actually dominated the first 20 minutes, finishing up 18-8 in shot attempts, 10-5 in scoring chances, and 6-2 in high-danger chances. The third was obviously even better, seeing them up 24-7 in shot attempts, 16-2 in scoring chances, and 7-0 in high-danger chances.
- Ethen Frank, who now has just as many goals as Ivan Demidov this season (10), was the gas and the igniter of the comeback. He scored the team’s two regulation goals, giving him six points (4g, 2a) in two games against the Canadiens this season. Over a full 82-game schedule, Frank would be on pace for 23 goals and 41 points. That is tremendous value. What a player.
- Major props to Rasmus Sandin, who registered assists on all three of the Capitals’ goals. The three-assist game was the third of his career.
Tonight marks Washington’s first third-period multi-goal comeback win since Nov. 29, 2024, a 5-4 (OT) win over the New York Islanders.
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) January 14, 2026
- He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but the Capitals were unstoppable with Alex Ovechkin on the ice at five-on-five. During his minutes, they held positive differentials in shot attempts (+16), shots on goal (+13), goals (+1), scoring chances (+11), high-danger chances (+7), and expected goals (+1.11).
- Connor McMichael scored his first career overtime goal to deliver two standings points to the Capitals. Among all of the team’s forwards, only Dylan Strome (23:25) played more ice time than McMichael (22:31).
- The power play went 0-for-5 and has fallen to a 15.3 percent effectiveness rate this season, ranking 30th out of 32 NHL teams. They are exactly 0.1 percentage points from being tied with the New York Islanders for worst. However, given the 6 shorthanded goals they’ve allowed, the 2nd most in the league, the Capitals’ net power-play effectiveness is just 10.9 percent, the worst mark in the league by 0.7 percentage points. Just utterly horrendous and way, way, way past due for the front office to step in and try to correct.
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