Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are set to play each other tonight for the 68th time in their careers, but the stakes for the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins in this game are unclear.
Both rivals’ are sellers ahead of Friday’s trade deadline as their chances of making the playoffs are slim. The Capitals have already dealt away Anthony Mantha and Joel Edmundson while the Penguins’ Jake Guentzel appears headed to Carolina.
Charlie Lindgren will start in goal for the Capitals with Darcy Kuemper sick. Ivan Miroshnichenko will get back into the lineup.
Tonight’s game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop will be a little after 7 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tunnel weirdness
🗣️ "YOUNG MONEY"#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/omdqmwG8FH
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 7, 2024
They’re brainiacs!
how many players does it take to get a soccer ball off a light bulb? pic.twitter.com/3hVyvJCfeY
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 7, 2024
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Tristan Jarry in net. Pacioretty-McMichael-Wilson and TVR-Carlson get the start.
Capitals go shorthanded 12 seconds in. Connor McMichael high-sticks Sidney Crosby off the opening faceoff.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. Tom Wilson scores a shorty on a two-on-one. His initial shot hit the post and then he knocked it out of mid-air and into the back of the net. Primary assist Beck Malenstyn. Time of goal 1:52.
Lindgren makes a huge point-blank stop on Rickard Rakell.
Miroshnichenko nearly scores on a rebound just outside the Pens’ crease.
Tom Wilson gets high-sticked badly on the cheek by Ryan Graves. He’s bleeding pretty bad. Caps to a four-minute power play.
Sbarbossa replaces Wilson in the bumper spot and nearly scores on the power play with a redirect.
Ovechkin hits the post off a set faceoff play and the puck goes out of play.
Jansen Harkins to the box for slashing Charlie Lindgren with seven seconds remaining in the period. Capitals back to the power play.
In what was a wildly entertaining first period, the Capitals outshot the Penguins 17 to 15 and out-attempted them 15 to 14 at five-on-five. Caps are still playing their hearts out.
2nd Period
🚨 2-0 Capitals. Alex Ovechkin scores his 840th career goal. It’s a PPG from the doorstep. Time of goal 0:30.
Alex Ovechkin scores 840th career goal, a power-play strike against Penguins
🚨 3-0 Capitals. Nick Jensen scores alone in front of the net. Another assist for Beck Malenstyn. Time of goal 3:16.
Beck Malensyn now just needs a goal for a Gordie Howe Hat Trick after chucking knucks with Jansen Harkins. He already has two primary assists on Tom Wilson and Nick Jensen goals.
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 8, 2024
🚨 4-0 Capitals. Hendrix Lapierre have mercy. He beats Jarry with a show low to the ice. TVR pulled off a spinorama move past Evgeni Malkin at the point which kept the play alive. Time of goal 8:50.
Jarry has been lifted for Alex Nedeljkovic.
Max Pacioretty to the box for hooking Kris Letang at 10:51.
🚨 5-0 Capitals. Ivan Miroshnichenko scores his first career NHL goal!!! He makes a power move in front of the net to score on Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. Miro was geeking out after he scored, pumping his fist. He got a facewash and helmet tap from Ovi at the bench. Time of goal 16:21.
Rasmus Sandin just went after Lars Eller, tackling him to the ice. WEIRD! Sandin gets a roughing penalty at 17:49.
The Penguins are now leading in shots on goal 28 to 24 and out-attemping the Caps 33 to 28 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
🚨 6-0 Capitals. Sonny Milano has a layup after a beautiful jump up and pass by Alex Alexeyev. Time of goal 2:13.
39 save shutout for Charlie Lindgren and he WAS tested.
What a freaking win.
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