This one looked like a classic trap game. With just one day off, after a three-in-four-days West Coast road trip, with key guys missing and a Columbus goalie who has given the Caps fits…this seemed like a tough ask for the Caps. But they were able to grind out a win thanks to some strong goaltending, a good cycle play in the second period, and a killer penalty kill on a double-minor late in regulation.
Plus: Goaltending. Logan Thompson came up big tonight, especially after the Capitals got their second period lead.
Minus: The Hendrix Lapierre double minor was a tough one, not only for just the length of time but also the point in the game, and it made an already tight game even more (and unnecessarily) tense late in the third period.