The Washington Capitals open the 2022 postseason tonight as massive underdogs against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are the best team in the NHL, earning the Presidents’ Trophy after winning 58 of 82 games this season (122 points). The Panthers are looking for their first Stanley Cup while the Capitals are looking to win their second in franchise history.
The major news coming into tonight’s game is that a huge star for each team will be returning from injury: Alex Ovechkin for the Capitals and Aaron Ekblad for the Panthers.
Vitek Vanecek will begin the series in net and face Sergei Bobrovsky.
Tonight’s game is on NBC Sports Washington. The first round is the only one Joe B and Locker get if the Capitals can advance.
Here are today’s Daily Deals.
Storylines
- Aaron Ekblad set to return to Panthers lineup for Game One against Capitals
- Vitek Vanecek will start Game One against Florida Panthers
- Alex Ovechkin to return from injury, play in Game One against Florida Panthers
- NHL 22 picks Florida Panthers to win Stanley Cup, but do these simulations play out in real life?
- Retired Ryan Zimmerman says he’s ‘ready if needed’ to be Capitals’ emergency goaltender in playoffs
- Kyle Clifford suspended one game for boarding Ross Colton, Jared Spurgeon only fined for dangerous cross-check
- The Capitals tagline for the 2022 playoffs is ‘No Excuses’
Caps lines
8-Ovechkin, 92-Kuznetsov, 73-Sheary
90-Johansson, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
39-Mantha, 20-Eller, 77-Oshie
22-Larsson, 26-Dowd, 21-Hathaway
42-Fehervary, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
57-van Riemsdyk, 2-Schultz
Vanecek
Panthers Lines
Verhaeghe – Barkov – Duclair
Huberdeau – Bennett – Giroux
Marchment – Lundell – Reinhart
Lomberg – Luostarinen – Hornqvist
Weegar – Ekblad
Forsling – Gudas
Chiarot – Montour
Bobrovsky
Tom Wilson scores first. 1-0 WSH!
After the Capitals couldn’t connect on a long 5-on-3 PP, Tom scores right as the second penalty is about to expire.
REBOUND SCOARRRRRRR! pic.twitter.com/vSoKrbMYID
— x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 3, 2022
And we are tied.
Sam Bennett beats Vitek blocker side.
Benny coming in HOT pic.twitter.com/hLkrQYI4xy
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 4, 2022
They can have a million horns, but they will never be as effective as The Horn Guy.
Here are tonight’s vuvuzelas pic.twitter.com/B9v0YeWTpL
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) May 3, 2022
Claude Giroux scores on a big rebound in front. 2-1 FLA.
Kuzy lost a defensive zone faceoff, big clapper from the right circle, the Caps didn’t D up, and Vitek gets beat.
G gets it done ‼️ pic.twitter.com/lrkit9AWqc
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 4, 2022
Kuzy scores on a breakaway. TIE GAME!
A great defensive play by Ovechkin allowed Kuznetsov to walk in alone on Bobrovsky. G6 PGH vibes!
THE BIRD TAKES FLIGHT! pic.twitter.com/0zCppfF69W
— x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 4, 2022
TJ Oshie gives the Caps the lead!!! 3-2.
What a perfect pass by Nicklas Backstrom.
The boys are BUZZINNNN 🔥 Osh sneaks it in!!
Caps up 3-2 in the 3rd!!?! pic.twitter.com/q1uK3ToY4m
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) May 4, 2022
Eller seals it with an empty netter.
Wow. The Caps take Game One.
"OH YEAH! YES, SIR!" the Tiger's empty-netter scores you nuggs!
Enjoy a free 6-piece Chicken McNuggets with minimum $1 purchase tomorrow on the app.
📲 https://t.co/qh48FCCHxI#ALLCAPS | @McDonalds pic.twitter.com/4l00b3yPJx
— x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 4, 2022
Comment below! We’ll be updating this live throughout the night.
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