OTTAWA, ON – As far as Mike Condon was concerned, it was about time the Ottawa Senators beat the Washington Capitals.
Condon stopped 31 shots for his fourth shutout of the season, leading the Senators to a 3-0 victory over the Capitals on Tuesday night.
The goalie had been solid in the two previous meetings, 2-1 and 1-0 losses, but was happy to finally come out with a victory against the league’s top team.
Chris Kelly, Bobby Ryan and Zack Smith scored for the Senators, who improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight.
Phillipp Grubauer made 31 saves as the Capitals lost in regulation for the first time since Dec. 27 at the New York Islanders. They were 12-0-2 since. Washington was shut out for the third time this season, and first since a 3-0 loss to the Islanders at home on Dec. 1.
Several Washington players had point streaks end, including Alex Ovechkin’s eight-game run with four goals and nine assists. Jean-Gabriel Pageau was on Ovechkin for much of the night and the Senators’ diminutive centre frustrated the Capitals’ captain all night.
Nicklas Backstrom, playing his 700th NHL game saw his 10-game point streak (four goals, 13 assists) end.
Trailing 3-0 to start the third the Capitals failed to create any real challenge for the Senators and were caught giving up a breakaway chance to Pageau short-handed. There cheapest cialis pdxcommercial.com are many other medicines that are easily available online. Shipping to the European countries is free and https://pdxcommercial.com/order-7940 levitra 40 mg for the rest of the world, there will be a very rocky road. Handsome UP: It is a simple yet effective exercise regime, you could also include cialis on line herbal penis enlargement pills to experience an increased size. The reasons for it may cheap viagra samples vary-stress, age and health condition.
Ottawa’s special teams continued to be the difference in the game as Smith scored a power-play goal midway through the second as Smith redirected Ryan Dzingel’s shot to give the Senators a 3-0 lead.
Ottawa couldn’t have asked for a better start as they scored twice in the first period.
Kelly opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at 1:46. Less than three minutes later, Ryan made it 2-0 as he tipped Fredrik Claesson’s shot past Grubauer.
The Capitals struggled to regroup following Ottawa’s two goals and were never able to match the Senators’ intensity.
Prior to the start of the game the Senators inducted Bryan Murray into its Ring of Honour. Murray is the first inductee. His portrait is featured on a pillar in the 300 Level of the Canadian Tire Centre.
Murray spent time as both coach and general manager with the Senators and is now a senior hockey advisor with the organization. The 74-year-old made his NHL coaching debut with the Capitals in 1981 and spent 8 1/2 seasons with the organization. His 343 wins remain a Capitals record.
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Ottawa Senators Former Coach and General Manager Bryan Murray is presented a Washington Capitals jersey by Washington Capitals Left Wing Alex Ovechkin (8) representing the numbers of wins he had as Capitals Coach before National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Ottawa Senators Former Coach and General Manager Bryan Murray addresses the crowd after being inducted into the Ottawa Senators Ring of Honour before National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Washington Capitals Center Nicklas Backstrom (19) turns to leave the zone during first period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Fredrik Claesson (33) waits for a faceoff during first period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Washington Capitals Goalie Philipp Grubauer (31) loses sight of the puck as Ottawa Senators Left Wing Ryan Dzingel (18) tries to bat it out of the air during second period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Washington Capitals Defenceman Matt Niskanen (2) chases a loose puck as Ottawa Senators Right Wing Mark Stone (61) attempts to hook him up during second period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Ottawa Senators Goalie Mike Condon (1) prepares to make a save on Washington Capitals Defenceman Brooks Orpik (44) during third period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Washington Capitals Left Wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates in the offensive zone during third period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Cody Ceci (5) breaks the puck out from behind the Senators net as Washington Capitals Center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) gives pursuit during third period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – JANUARY 24: Ottawa Senators Goalie Mike Condon (1) is congratulated on his shutout win by teammate Bobby Ryan (9) after third period National Hockey League action between the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators on January 24, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/http://richardawhittaker.ca/)