It couldn’t have been more dramatic, but after a wild ride, the Washington Capitals clinched a place in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday.
It happened after a 2-1 regulation win over the Philadelphia Flyers, but it was undoubtedly one of the most bizarre wins anyone had ever seen. And they could thank John Tortorella for it.
Alex Ovechkin, who started the season with just eight goals through his first 43 games, scored the Caps’ first goal of the game for his 30th of the season. It was the only goal the Caps scored on a goalie.
The Flyers needed a regulation win to reach the playoffs, but they also needed the Detroit Red Wings to lose.
But John Tortorella had no idea that Detroit had scored a goal with 3.3 seconds remaining in their game vs. the Montreal Canadiens.
That goal earned them at least a point, which meant the Flyers were eliminated from playoff contention. But no one told Tortorella in time, so he decided to pull goal Samuel Ersson with the game tied 1-1.
Postgame, John Tortorella explained that he learned about Detroit’s goal just after the Caps had scored an empty-netter to make it 2-1.
The goal eventually led to the Capitals getting the last wild card place, eliminating the Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers.
Postgame, Alex Ovechkin, who now will play playoff hockey for the 15th time in his 19-season career, had the most hilarious quote about everything that happened and his feelings about it.
”Detroit get a point and they still pull the goalie. They didn’t know that. But we’ll take it. Thanks, Philly,” Ovi said, per AP hockey writer Stephen Whyno.
The Washington Capitals will play the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.
