Capitals 4, Blackhawks 1 – Recap

Scoring

1^st Period

8:48 WSH Oshie (PP). Assists: Kuznetsov, Carlson

2^nd Period

3:09 WSH Carlson. Assists: Galiev, Johansson

3^rd Period

2:32 WSH Niskanen. Assists: Johansson, Burakovsky

3:13 CHI Svedberg. Assists: Panarin, Anisimov

14:18 WSH Ovechkin. Assists: Kuznetsov, Oshie

Penalties

1^st Period

8:31 CHI Tikhonov: 2 min. – Interference against Wilson

17:41 WSH Ovechkin: 2 min. – Roughing against Panarin

2^nd Period

None

3^rd Period

5:04 CHI Shaw: 2 min. – Slashing against Johansson

The Hawks played a good second period and mediocre first and third ones. At least the Hawks scored this time, though. Svedberg had the goal and I thought he sucked overall on the night, so that should tell what I thought about the rest of what he did. He clearly doesn’t read these blogs, because he screened his own goalie and didn’t block the shot again tonight, so the Carlson goal’s on him. At this point, I’d leave him in the lineup only because he isn’t David Rundblad.

Tikhonov was mostly bad, too. I liked Baun, so I’d leave him in and scratch Tikhonov Saturday. Q put Bickell on the top line with Toews and Kane and Bickell ended up playing pretty well. I’m beginning to think Q actually does read these blogs. I really didn’t like the idea of breaking up the Shake and Bake line, especially if you’re not going to put Turbo and Panarin together after doing so. If Q’s going to put Toews and Kane together for a while, I’d go:

29-19-88

72-86-65

39-15-81

11-16-28

You could switch Turbo and Shaw if you want. Same with Baun and Garbutt.

My picks for 3 stars:

★★★ Artemi Panarin, LW, CHI (1 A)

★★ Alexander Ovechkin, LW, WSH (1 G)

★ Braden Holtby, G, WSH (27 SV, 1 GA)

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com