The well-rested Capitals came out of NHL break with a vengeance

Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Despite being first place in the NHL, the Washington Capitals didn’t have a single player at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

So, when they returned this past weekend with an 8-3 victory over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins and a 7-3 thumping of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, it showed the Caps meant business. Sunday’s top highlight was watching Alex Ovechkin score three goals against Edmonton to bring him closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record of 894.

In the latest edition of Daily Faceoff Live with Tyler Yaremchuk and Frank Seravalli, the pair discussed just how well the Capitals played this past weekend – and why there’s even more reason to fear them right now:

Tyler Yaremchuk: “Frank, a hat trick for the Great 8, and now he is just 13 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky for the most all-time… It is his second hat trick of the season, his fifth multi-goal game. The shot of him going and fist-bumping his son on the glass after he scored was so cool. Ovi seems determined. The break did not deter him at all.

Frank Seravalli: “The break never deters Alex Ovechkin. Last year, he entered the all-star break with eight goals and finished in the 30s. So look, maybe the biggest winner from the 4 Nations was not just the NHL and NHLPA for the work that they did in the showcase of the game and getting it in front of all these eyeballs. But maybe also the Washington Capitals, the only team in the NHL without a single player selected to a 4 Nations roster.

“I guess not having (Russia) in the tournament factors into it. But the fact that no one else made it – not John Carlson on defense or Jacob Chychrun with the 17 goals that he has. Maybe the Caps come back, not only rested and well-rested at that, but with a little chip on their shoulder.

“And by the way, you look at Matthew Tkachuk from the Florida Panthers or Charlie McAvoy and the (Boston) Bruins. (Washington) I got through it without injury, too.”

You can watch the full episode below: