Caps defeated the Golden Knights 4-2

The Washington Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights to secure their first win of the season on Tuesday night. But you'll remember this game for another reason. This was the night of Vranaissance.

After a three and a half year break, Jakub Vrana returned to score for the Caps, opening us with a powerful slapshot after a great takeaway from Mangiapane. Victor Olofsson equalized on the power play after some fancy Vegas passes.

Tom Wilson scored a power play goal from close range in the second period. Aliaksei Protas caught a great pass from Ovechkin and extended the Caps' lead, which was further extended by Jakub Chychrun's first appearance with the team, made possible by Nic Dowd's great rush. Soon after, Las Vegas' slick passing game struck again – this time Jack Eichel completed the ball.

The Caps were on their heels in the third period, but they kept the puck away from the net. Caps win 4:2.

• I'm not trying to hit you up for tech support in the game recap comments, but I need some tech support. My Comcast Xfinity keeps glitching and losing picture quality. It's not the coaxial cable; I replaced it and even replaced the plug in the wall. I think I'll try replacing the HDMI cable next, but for now I'm frustrated to say the least. If I get facts wrong or my analysis is trite, it's Comcast's fault. Not mine.
• Alex Ovechkin Reach 700 career assists. That's what we're all here for: Alex Ovechkin assists. Wait, let me update my Alex Ovechkin assistant count. I have it right in front of my broken TV. But great pass.

Even Pro knew it was one #Great Court pic.twitter.com/q4KOmHHvZX

– Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 16, 2024

• I really like it Aliaksei Protas You'll get top opportunities, but you probably know that by now. Pro took over Ovechkin's opposite wing with Strome in the middle. After much intrigue, Ovechkin no longer played on the right wing as he had done in training. Masterful move, Mr. Carbery.
• After not having a single shot on goal in his first game, Ovechkin had six shots on goal tonight.
• Tom Wilson has two goals in two games. Their pre-season predictions are that he will score 22.6 goals at the end of the season, but personally I think it will be 82. You would be an absolute idiot if you thought he would only score 13 goals. I don't want to be the one who made this prediction. 🤡
• Aileen took enough time with me to play the game A) see the Jake Gate, and B) Say, “Uh, these pads look like the Confederate flag.” So, yeah, everyone sees it. Hope Logan ThompsonThe new equipment from is on the way soon. By the way, he was good tonight. Also good tonight: Aileen's minestrone.
• Hendrix Lapierre wasn't on the ice for the hero goal. He was clearly having problems again. He only got a substitution in the eighth minute of the third period. So no, I don't have a good feeling about this 3C spot right now, but it's early days.
• Vegas forward Victor Olofsson injured himself in the third period and fell in Dylan McIlrath during a collision along the boards.
• I don't want to jinx it, but I really like it Nic Dowd and the fourth line. However, I will say no more. I learned my lesson from the Tom Wilson affair.

With this combination of tie and jacket you are well prepared for the mid-season #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/pHgEjX591j

– RMNB (@rmnb) October 15, 2024

I've never made a secret of it, but I'll say it straight here: I love Jakub Vrana. I loved him from the start, I loved him after he left DC, and I loved him even when he struggled. Now that he's back and thriving, I'm delighted. We had a hockey crying moment tonight.

Jakub Vrana scores in the first game back with the Washington Capitals since 2021: “It’s great to play in this barn again”

It's worth revisiting what led to Jake's exit in the first place. The most succinct way to put it is: Laviolette hated his gut feeling. But that is in the past. The present is so much more interesting. In many ways, the Caps season so far has been too chaotic for me to imagine. But the return of our sweet little cherub (as Andy from Young Rising Sons (new song out tomorrow, this one is not sponsored) put it) is part of this chaos, but at least with him and at least for tonight you can feel really good about it. I feel fantastic.

Stars in town on Thursday. If the trend continues, the temperature in DC will drop to absolute zero by then. Therefore, make sure that your radiator is functional.