Just like that, the old Washington Capitals are back. Well, sort of. After seeing their quick-strike ability elude them in an eight-game losing streak, the Capitals have scored three goals in seven minutes to take a 3-2 lead over the Ottawa Senators midway through the second period.
I say sort of because it's been a new face leading the way. Mathieu Perreault, who was playing for the Hershey Bears of the AHL earlier this year, has scored two goals, both while sitting around on the doorstep of the crease. He scored the first goal 34 seconds into the period, then gave the Capitals the lead just under seven minutes into the period, banging in a puck that was trickling in front of the net on a power play. Eric Fehr tied the game up at 2 less than a minute after Perreault's first goal, and suddenly, this game has changed.
The Capitals nearly got a fourth goal, but it was determined that Alex Ovechkin kicked the puck into the net on a break at the 11-minute mark.
It's been said by many that the Capitals have had chances, but haven't converted. In this period, they've converted on those chances, and it just may save their season.