5 things to learn from the 2-0 loss of the kings in the Capital

“It was a really good performance by [Samsonov], ” Laviolette said after the game. “He seemed to control the game, control the fold and focus. He did a really good job.”

While, Samsonov praises his teammates:

“I think it’s more important that the team wins [than I get a shutout] because we played with a lot of heart, a lot of shots were saved, everyone help me. It was a good game, an important point or two, I need to play like that every night.”

Like his Russian teammate, Hathaway is on a hearth of his own. This time last week, the American striker drew goalless in the period 2021-22. After a brace against LA, he’s currently third on the team and has scored Washington’s last two goals.

“With the amount of mistakes that aren’t in the current squad, for him to contribute the way he is, it’s really important,” Laviolette said.

“He skates well, he handles the ball well, he shoots hard, he hits the net, he goes into difficult areas. There’s no reason for him not to score, so it’s nice to see him rewarded.”

Now, let’s talk about the takeaways.

Capitals exhibit Cup-style Independence

The importance of Washington’s victory over the Kings cannot be overlooked. The capital was without five key strikers, on the second night of the West Coast clash and up against a team that hasn’t played since Saturday.

The kings are also looking good at the moment; Their 8-6-2 record is currently good enough to place fourth in the Pacific Division (and a Western Conference wildcard spot). With the odds piling up against them, Alex Ovechkin and Co weathered the storm in LA and a win that put them at the top of the Metropolitan Division.

Capitals played five games in seven days without major players and earned nine points. That’s the kind of run that the Stanley Cup contenders put together.

John Carlson’s Point Streak continues to be Washington’s best couple

The pairing of Martin Fehervary with John Carlson proved to be an imitation of Laviolette.

Carlson assisted in both goals for Hathaway, extending his assist streak to four games and bringing his tally to 10 for the season. The American blueliner artist is currently tied with Michal Pivonka at number three on the franchise’s support list (418) and is churning out quality performances night after night for The capital is injured.

Carlson seemed comfortable playing alongside Fehervary, who was happy to play alongside him. It’s a win-win for Capitals and Laviolette.

Flowers for Garnet Hathaway

In addition to his two goals, Hathaway scored six goals against the kings, leading all the skaters of the night. The fourth-placer has certainly scored at least six hits in five of his last 17 games. Unsurprisingly, his 61 hits during the season put him third in the NHL.

As Laviolette noted, it’s useless to measure Hathaway’s performance through goals and assists. He’s been an important contributor to the Capitals even when he’s not on the scoreboard – and deserves extra praise when he finds the next two against the kings.

With so many strikers unavailable, Caps needed a lifter. Hathaway did.

Ilya Samsonov also flowered

While Washington’s scoring quality has been a concern throughout the season (and still is), it must be said that Samsonov was brilliant against the Kings. The Russian made 34 saves in his fifth NHL opener, taking his tally to 34-10-4.

Related: Cloudy Capital’s goalkeeper image after Samsonov .’s struggles

That said, keeping Samsonov’s clean sheet will do little to improve his reputation. The 24-year-old is under pressure this season because of inconsistent form, not quality. If he can run together, the organization will take note. Until then, they probably won’t.

The capitals are dazzled on the road again

Washington is 10-2-5 to start the year and 5-1-2 on the way. The only team in the NHL with a better away record than the Capitals is the Carolina Hurricanes. In other words, Laviolette’s team should be in good spirits as they continue their journey in San Jose on Saturday.

Looking ahead, it’s inconceivable that the Capitals could return to DC, after winning three of their four games in California and Seattle.

While the Sharks are only one point behind Kings with the game at hand, Kraken’s extensive roster is currently dormant. Seattle is 4-11-1 on the season and has lost five games in a row. Thus, the Capital has the opportunity to increase the distance between themselves and the chasing herd. It’s the one they must take.

Luke is an award-winning sports journalist from the United Kingdom who covers the Washington Capitals for THW. He has just graduated from the University of Warwick and is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Journalism at City, University of London. To stay up to date with Luke’s work, you can find his tweets via @LukeJames_32.