December 10, 2023, Chicago, Illinois, USA: During the second period at the United Center against the Chicago Blackhawks, right wing Anthony Mantha (39) of the Washington Capitals celebrates his goal with centers Connor McMichael (24) and Aliaksei Protas (21)

967sportsof December 11, 2023

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After defeating the Rangers 4-0 on Saturday night in Washington, DC, the Caps headed to Chicago with the intention of completing a weekend sweep. They would need to defeat the mediocre but tenacious Hawks, who are captained by teenage sensation Connor Bedard, and hope to avoid suffering any kind of emotional setback following their significant triumph against the Rangers.

They succeeded in doing exactly that, mounting a strong, manly effort to make it a four-point weekend after overcoming a first-period Chicago goal to score three goals in a row in the second period (with contributions from three of the four forward lines, which we always love to see).

FOUR KEYS TO TAKE AWAY

The Caps struggled in the second period of last night’s game, as they have done in the previous three. With just 19 goals in that middle frame, the Caps were among the few teams that were in the bottom half of the standings heading into their game against Chicago. But with three goals last night, they have scored eight goals in the second period in their last three games.

Anthony Mantha scored the most beautiful goal in a game full of ugly ones, finishing on a semi-breakaway after Connor McMichael’s excellent up-ice assist. Then, he beat the Chicago goalie with his size, speed (he outran Connor Bedard, who was only eighteen), and hands to score his second good goal in as many games.

Shoutout to Darcy Kuemper for putting together a very good game for himself, turning aside 32 of the 34 shots faced, including all six sent his way by Bedard. It was a nice bounceback game for him in his first appearance since getting pulled in the loss to the Coyotes last week.

I’m not really sure what incited the refs at the end of the game, but obviously it did, because they gave Tom Wilson (2+2+10) and T.J. Oshie (10 more) after a brawl in which all ten skaters on the ice were engaged. Move on, stripes.