All thoughts that a 13-day break for the 4 Nations Face-off tournament could cool down Washington’s heads were quickly dismissed on Saturday when the Eastern Conference Managers blew out values ​​Pittsburgh Penguins, 8-3.
The win extended Washington’s points streak to seven matches (4-0-3) and their Metropolitan Division leads to 12 points over Carolina Hurricanes. The capitals have taken up a point in 19 of their last 20 matches (13-1-6).
Next is a competition on Sunday afternoon with Connor McDavid and the visiting Edmonton Oilers during the second half of a back-to-back for both teams.
McDavid, who received the overtime winner in Canada’s 3-2 victory across the United States in the 4 National Final on Thursday evening in Boston, had just over 36 hours to enjoy his milestone moment before taking the ice on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.
Talk about your Downer. McDavid failed to get a point and was minus-3 in just shy in 20 minutes on ice in a 6-3 loss for the flyer.
Leon Draisaitl extended his points streak to seven matches (six goals, five assists) with one goal and one assist, and John Klingberg also had a goal and an assist for Oilers.
Edmonton fell out of part of first place in Pacific Division with Vegas Golden Knights with the loss, their sixth in the last 11 matches (5-5-1). Stuart Skinner finished with 26 saves in the game, the first of five straight on the road.
“I think what really cost us was the turnover and tried to play when there is no game to be done, or can’t get the puck in deep,” said Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch. “Four goals with steady strength (allowed), and all were the direct result of a turnover. We are not in good position to defend because usually on turnover, everyone thinks (on) something else and the capitalized.”
“For a man, I think many of these gigs and the execution, we can have a higher level,” said Oiler’s defender Darnell nurse. “This is a big trip that comes up, and the competition is only getting higher from here. So for us we have to shake it off and tomorrow’s another big test for us.”
Washington, who handed Oilers a 3-2 loss on January 21 in Edmonton in his first meeting, scored five times during the second period, including two goals in an eight-second span, in his route of the penguins. Fifteen of the team’s 18 riders scored at least one point. Surprisingly, Alex Ovechkin, who has 879 career goals and needs 16 more to break Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894, was not one of them.
Jakob Chychrun scored twice in a five-goal second period which saw that the capitals would break out for three goals during 3:47.
“We got a lot of look tonight, so I knew I could get a couple,” said Chychrun, who is ranked as third among the NHL defender with 16 goals. “It was a fantastic game of the boys. It was a lot of fun to play out there tonight, and it was nice to be back with them.”
It marked the second time this season that Washington scored eight goals in a game. The capitals lead the eastern conference with 204 goals, two fewer than league -leading Winnipeg.
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