Before Saturday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Washington Capitals faced a tough situation. They had only one shootout win all season, and their goaltender, Logan Thompson, had a rough record of 0-5 in shootouts.
After a tense game with no clear winner in regulation and overtime, the Caps looked set for another disappointment. But Thompson, drawing on his past experience with the Golden Knights, shared a helpful tip with Capitals forward Dylan Strome. He suggested that Strome fake a shot against Adin Hill, Thompson’s former partner.
“Yeah, I got a little tip from LT,” Strome said after the game. “He said Hill might bite on the shot. If he does, go backhand.” Taking this advice, Strome faked, then went right for the backhand to win the shootout.
On the other end, Thompson made crucial saves against Rasmus Andersson, Jack Eichel, and Pavel Dorofeyev, sealing the victory for Washington.
Thompson, who played four seasons with the Golden Knights before joining the Caps, had Hill as his backup for most of last season. Strome celebrated the win, noting how significant it was to claim the two points. “It’s a lot of fun to win here,” he said.
Strome is leading the team in shootout goals this season with four, which is impressive enough to rank him sixth in the NHL. Only four other Capitals players have scored in shootouts, but none have scored more than once.
Head coach Spencer Carbery praised Strome’s choice of moves. “That was a really nice goal,” he said, highlighting Strome’s skill.
Thompson’s performance throughout the game was solid, with 25 saves on 29 shots. This win improved his record to 4-0 against the Golden Knights. This season, he has a record of 26-20-6, with a goals-against average of 2.43 and a .913 save percentage. Notably, he ranks second in the league for goals saved above expected, with 29.1, just behind Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders.
The Capitals’ ability to adapt and find success in shootouts could be key as they push through the rest of the season, especially with this kind of teamwork and strategic advice coming into play. As they look ahead, fans will be eager to see how this momentum carries them forward.
