The Washington Capitals erased an early 2-point deficit in the first period against the Calgary Flames, forcing the game to a shootout where the Capitals emerged victorious. Sunday night marked the Capitals’ first win of the season, bringing their record to 1-1, with Head Coach Spencer Carbery securing his first win as an NHL head coach.
The youth on the Capitals squad led the way against Calgary, with Matthew Phillips scoring his first NHL goal against the team that drafted him in 2016. Phillips finished the game with a goal and an assist. Shortly after, Connor McMichael tied the game at 2-2 on a goal at the halfway point in the second period.
The Capitals rallied to overcome a slow start in the first period, registering only two shots on goal by the first intermission.
“It wasn’t comfortable for 65 minutes, plus the shootout,” Head Coach Spencer Carbery said at the podium. “But maybe in a weird way, it’s a bit of weight off of our staff and our team.”
Spencer Carbery speaks to the media after recording his first career NHL win as head coach in a shootout victory over Calgary this evening.#CapsFlames pic.twitter.com/MDqTYIMqYw
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 17, 2023
The Caps were outshot for the majority of the game, as the Flames almost doubled the shots on goal at the end of the game, 40-23. But Washington’s defense held down its own in the third period, forcing the game into the overtime period that went scoreless after five minutes.
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the only goal in the shootout period, while Goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped all three shots he faced. Kuemper returned to the Capitals lineup following time away from the team to welcome his first baby and posted 40 saves against the Flames.
“You’re going to make me tear up here,” Kuemper said laughing when asked about playing for his baby boy. “It’s his first game, he won’t remember it. But it was nice to win the first one for
him, that’s for sure.”
DID IT FOR BABY KUEMPS pic.twitter.com/0qUTbB9CqA
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 17, 2023
On the injury front, Capitals Goalie Charlie Lindgren, who started against the Penguins on opening night, suffered an upper-body injury during the morning skate early Sunday and is
considered day-to-day.
The Capitals sit at .500 through two games and take to the ice on Wednesday when they travel to Ottawa to face the Senators.