Caps 4, Rangers 2
Just a great game to watch and a fun story to write. Matt Bradley, who scored two goals in Game 5 of last year’s playoff series vs. the Rangers, had the game-winner again tonight for Washington. Oh, and he had a momentum-changing fight, leaving the ice bloodied and needing stitches. And he dished out four hits. Just tremendous stuff and it overshadowed the return of Alex Ovechkin, who scored goal No. 15 on the power play in the first period after missing six games with an upper-body strain.
Feel awful for forward Quintin Laing, who suffered a broken jaw when he dove to block a shot in the third period with the Caps up a goal. It was a courageous play and left his teammates and coaches in awe. I’m not kidding. Brooks Laich afterwards could hardly find the words to describe what Laing did for his team – though he eventually did. That’s why he’s the most quotable player in that locker room.
Laing, of course, had swine flu last month. He suffered a ruptured spleen in his one and only NHL game last season and could have died if not for a heads-up reaction by trainer Greg Smith. This is a guy who has gotten everything out of his ability and lived his dream of playing in the NHL. He even has two goals this season. But his luck never seems to hold and that just doesn’t seem fair. Team officials say he will be out “weeks” and that Laing was staying in a New York hospital for observation.
Bradley and Laing overshadowed Ovechkin. They overshadowed Bruce Boudreau, who earned his 100th career win as an NHL coach. They overshadowed another win by rookie goalie Semyon Varlamov ( 18 saves). And with good reason. Performances like that – from guys who don’t get the credit or the publicity the stars so often do – make this sport so much fun to cover.
The Caps improved to 13-4-4 and have 30 points now. Forward Tomas Fleischmann extended his career-best point scoring streak to nine games with an assist on Ovechkin’s goal. Will have plenty more from practice tomorrow. 11 a.m. at Kettler.
