The Washington Capitals are back home at Capital One Arena to take on the Ottawa Senators.
If the Capitals, who are playing much better hockey, want to keep their far-fetched playoff dreams alive, this is another must-win game.
The Senators might be below the Capitals in the standings, but it will be a tough test. They are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
For the Capitals, Sonny Milano is a late scratch due to illness while Nick Jensen is out. Anthony Mantha, who was a game-time decision, will play.
Tonight’s game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin will have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 7 pm. It’s Black History Night at Cap One.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Capitals scratches: Ivan Miroshnichenko
Ottawa Senators
1st Period
Darcy Kuemper will oppose Anton Forsberg in net. Protas-McMichael-Mantha and Sandin-Carlson get the start.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. Aliaksei Protas scores on a two-on-one break with Anthony Mantha. Mantha stopped on a dime and floated a pass over a Senators defenseman. Protas deked and beat Forsberg top shelf on his backhand. NOICE. Time of goal 6:30.
Jakob Chychrun to the box for delay of game at 8:21.
🚨 2-0 Capitals. John Carlson scores directly off a faceoff win by Dylan Strome. The shot clanks off Parker Kelly’s leg and in. Time of goal 8:30. It’s only Carlson’s fourth goal of the year.
🚨 2-1 Capitals. Drake Batherson dents the twine after a turnover by the Capitals behind the net. Caps’ first line and Alexeyev/TVR struggled to clear. Time of goal 10:12.
🚨 2-2 tie. Shane Pinto with a perfect deflection of a high-arching shot out of the air. Initially ruled a high stick, the play was overturned upon review. Time of goal 12:41.
Drake Batherson to the box for boarding Michael Sgarbossa into the curved glass near the bench. Sgarbs is okay,
🚨 3-2 Capitals. Max Pacioretty calls his own number on the resulting power play and beats Forsberg clean. It’s Pacioretty’s second of the season. Time of goal 18:33.
🚨 4-2 Capitals. Fourteen seconds later, Beck Malenstyn scores to give the Caps back their two-goal lead. Malenstyn, driving the center lane, took a back pass from Protas and beat Forsberg through the arm from up close. Time of goal 18:33.
Protas (1g, 1a) and Connor McMichael (2a) had two points in the period and led the way.
The Capitals outshot the Senators 10 to 9. The Senators led 14 to 13 in five-on-five shot attempts. The Capitals went 2/2 on the power play and the team has been one of the NHL’s best team with the extra man since Jan. 27.
2nd Period
Joonas Korpisalo has replaced Forsberg in net after the Sens’ starting netminder gave up four goals on nine shots.
🚨 4-3 Capitals. Ethan Bear steps up and turns the puck over in the netral zone. Brady Tkachuk scores easily on the resulting two-on-one. Time of goal 1:27.
🚨 5-3 Capitals. Ethan Bear jumps up in the play and sends a centering pass towards the net. Malenstyn kicks it toward Hendrix Lapierre who sends the puck into the net. Time of goal 1:58.
Pierrick Dube to the box for tripping Mark Kastelic at 5:36.
🚨 6-3 Capitals. Hendrix Lapierre scores again – this time on a two-on-one break with Anthony Mantha. Beautiful passing. The French Canadian connection! Time of goal 10:55.
Erik Brannstrom to the box for interfering Connor McMichael at 14:30.
Alex Ovechkin hits the outside of a goal frame with a shot on the resulting power play.
This game is high scoring, but not because of the volume being put on net. The Capitals are outshooting the Senators 18 to 15 while Ottawa is out-attempting Washington 34 to 25 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
John Carlson with a bad turnover in defensive zone, giving up a three-on-one break to the Senators. Capitals fortunate they could not convert.
In the waning seconds, Brady Tkachuk goes after TVR and Darcy Kuemper. Not sure what was going on there. Brady breaks his stick as he goes down the tunnel.
Caps win 6-3. They were outshot 21 to 20 and out-attempted 51 to 40 at five-on-five. Just scored when it mattered.
Read the RMNB recap.
Capitals slap the Senators silly with an easy six spot: Capitals beat Senators 6-3
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