Days after an 8-3 shellacking from Detroit, the Washington Capitals are back in what is being presented as an important matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers.
“It’s their biggest game to date,” Monumental Sports Network’s Joe Beninati said in the telecast’s opening package.
I personally don’t have it in my heart to say that it is — though I love Joe B’s optimism. At this moment pregame, the Capitals have a 6.3 percent chance of making the playoffs per Money Puck, and are six points out of a playoff spot. While the players should want to get to the big dance by any means possible, my concern as a fan and an analyst is not that.
Through my kind eyes, the Capitals are seemingly avoiding a full-out rebuild. If they play this trade deadline the way they should, they’ll be in even better shape as they head towards the future, too. Deal off the unrestricted bois and be open to bringing in someone who could help them longterm. Ryan Leonard figures to play a big part in their future and that’s all because they embraced what they were last season.
Regardless of tonight’s outcome, let’s hope they do the same this year.
Tonight’s game, which should be very exciting, is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is a little after 7 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Capitals scratches: Ethan Bear, Pierrick Dube, and Ivan Miroshnichenko
Philadelphia Flyers
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Samuel Ersson in net. Ovechkin-Lapierre-Wilson and Edmundson-Jensen get the start for the Capitals. Garnet Hathaway got the start against his former mates on the other side.
Setting the tone in the nation's capital. #PHIvsWSH | @SNICKERS pic.twitter.com/4HNHh3BFCn
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 1, 2024
🚨 1-0 Flyers. Owen Tippett tips the puck past Rasmus Sandin as he steps up in the offensive zone. After Charlie Lindgren makes a sensational right pad save on Morgan Frost in the resulting two-on-one, Bobby Brink beats Aliaksei Protas down the ice and sends the rebound into the yawning net. Time of goal 1:52.
BOB-O. #PHIvsWSH | @BobbyBrink19 pic.twitter.com/FjiqCiOeSa
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 2, 2024
Dylan Strome to the box for tripping at 3:35. Flyers get the first power play of the game.
Garnie is garnie’ing.
🎶🕺 What is Love? 🎶🕺#PHIvsWSH | @GarnetHathaway pic.twitter.com/lDFzrZeFvE
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 2, 2024
Tom Wilson to the box for tripping Ryan Poehling at 16:47.
🚨 2-0 Flyers. From the left circle, Owen Tippett rips a shot past Lindgren as TVR scrambles to get back in position. It’s a PPG. Time of goal 18:23.
TIPPADELPHIA. 🎯#PHIvsWSH | @TippettOwen pic.twitter.com/Mu7mRsL6zH
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 2, 2024
Capitals looking listless and had no answers for the Flyers. Philadelphia outshot them 11 to 5 in the first period and out-attempted them 16 to 10 at five-on-five.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Monumental Sports Network airs a mic’d up video of Hendrix Lapierre to start the period. Lappy is quite friendly on the ice, very communicative too. Good qualities of a center to have.
🚨 2-1 Flyers. Alex Ovechkin scores career goal number 839. Off a set play, Lapierre won a faceoff directly to Tom Wilson who bumped the puck backward to Ovechkin for a pretty shot. Time of goal 4:34.
🚨 2-2 tie. After Max Pacioretty’s centering pass is tipped by a Flyers defender, the puck is wobbles and spins its way to the crease. Sonny Milano gets his stick on it first and lobs the flubber puck over Ersson’s shoulder and in. Time of goal 9:55. The two goals came 5:21 apart.
Two split second plays have the Capitals back in this game after they looked terrible in the first period.
Cam York to the box for tripping at 10:56. After the play he tries to goad Malenstyn into a roughing penalty but Beck keeps his cool.
Caps to their first power play of the night.
Max Pacioretty to the box for boarding Nicolas Deslauriers (pretty badly) at 14:49. The Flyers engaged him but Patches was not going to fight.
🚨 3-2 Capitals. John Carlson with a smart wraparound to give the Capitals a 3-2 lead. Time of goal 17:45. That’s three consecutive goals for the Capitals!
The Flyers are outshooting the Capitals 16 to 14 and out-attempting them 30 to 21 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Capitals to power play after Sean Walker high-sticks NAK at 5:39.
🚨 4-2 Capitals. Huge hustle by Tom Wilson to block a Flyers clear behind the net. Dylan Strome finds the loose puck and sends it to Anthony Mantha for a crease-side tap-in. It’s a PPG. Mantha’s 19th comes at the 6:04 mark. FOUR unanswered goals for Washington.
Tom Wilson and Garnet Hathaway get into a fracas before a face off, each earning four minutes for roughing. Both players could have easily been tossed if the fight was ruled a major penalty. The penalties come at the 7:39 mark.
🚨 5-2 Capitals. Charlie Lindgren makes a huge pad save on Sean Courtier. On the other end of the ice, Dylan Strome gets a pass wide open in front of the net and beats Ersson clean. Time of goal 15:38.
Capitals win despite being outshot 26 to 21 and out-attempted 54 to 35 at five-on-five.
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