Dylan Strome’s overtime game-winning goal ended no longer simplest the Capitals-Blue Jackets recreation however the Caps’ whole preseason together with it. Except — technically it wasn’t intended to be that means.
After every preseason recreation, the Capitals held a three-round practice shootout with the opposing group and had been scheduled to do so in opposition to Columbus. It provides a chance for gamers and goalies to practice the talents festival forward of the season.
Not this night.
Strome scored after his maximum spectacular recreation but as a Capital. After regaining the puck from a misplaced faceoff, Strome and fellow new offseason acquisition Connor Brown flew down the ice on a two-on-one. Brown flipped a fantastic saucer go to Strome which he buried in the web, finishing overtime simplest 39 seconds in.
“We were talking just before the faceoff that if we get a chance we’re just going to kind of go,” Strome mentioned in a postgame interview. “I didn’t play really a shift – not much of overtime last year so happy to get the opportunity to be out there.” (Strome simplest performed 5:39 of 3-on-3 time ultimate season with the Blackhawks according to Natural Stat Trick.)
strome candy strome! %.twitter.com/Jclc0BOFzj
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 9, 2022
After Strome scored, NBC Sports Washington’s Craig Laughlin spotted that a number of Blue Jackets went down the tunnel.
“Some of the coaches are headed down to the locker room,” Laughlin stated. “I don’t think they realize there’s going to be a shootout here! They’re already down the runway [while] the Caps are celebrating. I think we have a shootout. The referees are saying there’s a shootout.”
After Locker analyzed the goal, NBCSWSH cameras pointed in opposition to Capitals gamers ready at their bench for a call of a few type. Seconds later, the Capitals and closing Blue Jackets gamers then walked off the ice.
“I guess we’re only doing overtime, no shootout tonight,” Laughlin stated giggling.
“The two captains, Jenner and Ovechkin, were like ‘We really don’t really want to do this,’ Beninati said. “And I believe the two coaches said, ‘Nah, let’s blow it off too.’”
“I was ready for it,” Laughlin stated giggling.
“I was psyched up for it,” Joe Beninati spoke back.
“You were pumped up with all your stats,” Laughlin stated.
Beninati summarized that the goal was the easiest option to finish the preseason, which is difficult to disagree with.
Strome’s robust efficiency in opposition to the Blue Jackets integrated a just about easiest night time at the faceoff dot, successful all 10 of the attracts he took in legislation.
“He’s been excellent in the faceoff circle,” Capitals head trainer Peter Laviolette stated. “Tonight I think the only one he lost was the one in overtime. He was so strong. His game has been really good.”
Strome was no longer assured the second-line middle spot when Capitals Training Camp started, entrenched in a fight with Connor McMichael. But in the finish, it seems like he completely gained the place. Strome led the Capitals in preseason targets with 3, posted a 56.6 five-on-five shot-attempts proportion, and gained 25 of 36 faceoffs total (69.4 %).
Strome is having a look to turn out himself this yr after a difficult season in Chicago which noticed him non-tendered a qualifying be offering by means of the Blackhawks over the summer time. Strome was a wholesome scratch 13 occasions ultimate season, together with a stretch the place he sat out seven of eleven video games at the starting of the yr.
“Sometimes you turn the page on where you were last year and this year is a new year,” Laviolette stated. “You get an opportunity to make the most of it and it looks like he is trying to do that.”
Screenshot: NBCSWSH