Close on the comeback but doomed by tough first period: Canucks beat Capitals 4-3

• The Capitals did not wake up for this game, and I wish I hadn’t either if that first period was in the cards. They didn’t exactly play “bad,” but they just couldn’t string two passes together, and they were put in an early hole by a bad goal against from Charlie Lindgren. Then, some terrible puck luck and a blown challenge led to two more for the Canucks.
• I think Evander Kane did enough on Vancouver’s second for that goal to be taken back. Lindgren had his glove over the puck, but Kane jammed his stick underneath it to keep the play alive. I also just despise Evander Kane and want nothing good for him ever.
• Tom Wilson got put in the box (eventually freed) for a completely clean hit because Filip Chytil, unfortunately and sadly, given his injury history, has yet to learn to keep his head up in an NHL neutral zone. I’m sure the Canadian media will be completely rational (they weren’t) about Wilson delivering a clean hit.

• The Capitals actually played a pretty great second period. Unfortunately, Thatcher Demko seems to be in great form for the Canucks in net right now; otherwise, the game would have been closer heading into the third period. At five-on-five, the Caps were up 22-5 in shot attempts during the second frame.
• Ryan Leonard converted on a power play to get the team on the board. You read that correctly – another power-play goal. I don’t think Leonard should leave that first unit now.
• If Pierre-Luc Dubois is still out, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Sonny Milano sit out for Ethen Frank on Tuesday. Milano just isn’t doing a whole lot after a great preseason.
• Nic Dowd taking an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty ahead of a third period where the team needed to get out to a good start is not great. Would like to see him take fewer penalties in general this year.
• Not the result you want, but I think after that shambles of a first period, the Capitals were the far better team for the rest of regulation. Just a few awful bounces, some great goaltending in the Canucks net, and that killer failed challenge that led to a penalty. Lots of good to take away from a loss.
• Just a magic shift from Hendrix Lapierre to set up Jakob Chychrun’s goal. Let’s hope that gives him some confidence because that was the AHL playoff MVP that I remember right there. Anthony Beauvillier, Rasmus Sandin, and Justin Sourdif were also excellent with keeping that puck alive.
• I didn’t love Charlie Lindgren in this game. I’m not sure why Logan Thompson didn’t get this start with a back-to-back coming up to get Lindgren in next weekend.

The Capitals have one more game remaining on this homestand, hosting the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night. They then have two days off before heading up to Columbus to visit the Blue Jackets.