Capitals' Orpik scores 1st career game-winner vs. Devils
The Washington Capitals battled back from three separate one-goal deficits to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Saturday, and the game-winning goal came from an unlikely source.
Veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik's late third-period goal was just his fourth tally since 2012, and marked the first game-winner of his career in his 798th game. His teammates were clearly thrilled, as captain Alex Ovechkin jumped in the air after Orpik scored.
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
"His celly was pretty amazing," Ovechkin quipped after the game.
With an earlier assist, Saturday marked Orpik's first two-point game with a goal since November 2008, according to Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt.
Trotz: “I know our bench, if we could’ve gone out to the blue line to hug Brooks, we all would have if we wouldn’t have gotten a penalty.”
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 21, 2016
"It gives you confidence when you come back against - I think - statistically the best defensive team," Orpik said of the Devils, who have now lost three consecutive games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and T.J. Oshie scored the team's other three goals. The Capitals will seek their ninth win in ten games against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday.
#Caps have most wins thru 57 GP in NHL history, but will that translate to a Stanley Cup? History has mixed results pic.twitter.com/aZ5IbI8OZ9
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 21, 2016