The Washington Capitals, losers of two straight, will continue their busy stretch of games with a Sunday matinee against the Los Angeles Kings. Since returning from New Year’s, the Capitals have lost two of three and have been outscored 15-9, surrendering six goals twice.
They’ll look to turn things around against LA, who sit third in the Pacific Division with a 20-9-6 record. The Kings are led by Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe who both have 35 points (14g, 21a). They’ve also received fantastic goaltending from Cam Talbot, who’s posted a 14-8-3 record along with a 2.10 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.
The Capitals will turn to Darcy Kuemper in goal. Alex Ovechkin will take warmups and be a “true” game-time decision. The Caps previously defeated the Kings 2-1 on the road in late November.
Today’s game is on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Ian’s in Hershey for the Teddy Bear Toss game so look out for coverage from him here and on his Twitter account.
Lines
Alex Alexeyev and Matthew Phillips are the healthy scratches.
Lineys!#CapsKings | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/ddRc5KHvEH
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 7, 2024
Tunnel weirdness
The many versions of Marty#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/wkvzA5gLbd
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 7, 2024
1st Period
Darcy Kuemper will oppose Cam Talbot in net. Beck Malenstyn, Nic Dowd, Tom Wilson, Martin Fehervary, and John Carlson get the start.
The first penalty of the game goes to Vladislav Gavrikov as he clips Tom Wilson with a high stick.
No goals in the first as both goaltenders were tested but not beaten. Capitals come out of the first 20 minutes with a 12-11 edge in shots.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. Nic Dowd stings his former team with a backhand try that beats Cam Talbot to the glove side.
Ethan Bear puts Los Angeles on their first power play of the game after he was deemed to have tripped Arthur Kaliyev.
🚨 1-1 tie. Adrian Kempe powers a one-timer past Darcy Kuemper on the ensuing man advantage.
Just 15 seconds after the game-tying tally, Joel Edmundson puts the Capitals shorthanded again with a roughing penalty on Brandt Clarke.
🚨 2-1 Kings. Really bad rebound from Darcy Kuemper lands on the stick of Kevin Fiala who has an easy finish to give LA the lead.
🚨 2-2 tie. Dylan Strome finishes off a give-and-go passing play with Alex Ovechkin to tie the game back up. Ovechkin now riding a five-game point streak.
All knotted up after forty minutes. Kings up 29-23 in shots after they controlled much of that second frame.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Connor McMichael takes an early third period high-sticking penalty.
🚨 3-2 Kings. Just five seconds after the puck drop on the penalty kill, Kevin Fiala pots his second of the game.
Tom Wilson headed back to the locker room for some repairs after he took a high stick/high glove to the face.
🚨 3-3 tie. Nicolas Aube-Kubel enters the zone 1-on-4 but still finds a hole in Cam Talbot to get the Capitals back in business.
🚨 4-3 Capitals. John Carlson flutters a seeing-eye shot to the back of the cage with just a minute remaining in regulation.
The Capitals stun the Kings late and hold on to prevent a three-game losing skid. The Kings have lost their last five.
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