The Washington Capitals, once again one point out a playoff spot, are back in DC after a 3-2-0 road trip to face the mighty Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Leafs sport the league’s best goal-scorer, Auston Matthews, who has 55 goals in 66 games this season.
“He’s a special player,” Alex Ovechkin said pregame. “It’s fun to watch.”
The solution to your Tom Wilson problem, Ryan Reaves, will tragically not play due to an eye poke.
The Capitals will be without TJ Oshie and Aliaksei Protas due to injury.
Tonight’s game is airing on TNT. Puck drop is a little after 7:30 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Scratches:Ethan Bear
Tunnel weirdness
Today in existential moments:
"What is babe?"#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/UrklDVE6Rs
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 20, 2024
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Joseph Woll in net. Malenstyn-Dowd-NAK and Fehervary-Carlson get the start.
Mike Sgarbossa on the first line – I just want to say I’m so freaking happy for him. Please use the hashtag #TopLineSCOARbossa.
🚨 1-0 Leafs. Auston Matthews scores 16 seconds in. John Carlson with a poor clear then follows that up with poor coverage giving up a layup for Papi. It’s his 56th of the year.
Alex Ovechkin had four hits in the first period and hit the post with a shot.
Capitals outshoot the Leafs 10 to 8 and out-attempted them 27 to 18 at five-on-five.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Miro loses control of the puck on a two-on-one.
🚨 2-0 Leafs. William Nylander, on the next rush down the ice, beats Lindgren top corns with a lethal wrist shot. The goal came 56 seconds into the period.
Matthew Knies to the box for tripping Tom Wilson at 9:05.
🚨 2-1 Leafs. Alex Ovechkin scores career goal number 844 on Joseph Woll via a second period PPG from the Ovi spot. It’s his 310th career power-play goal. Time of goal 9:57.
Alex Ovechkin is now 50 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky for the NHL’s all-time goals record
🚨 3-1 Leafs. Auston Matthews has his second of the game, scoring on a simple wrist shot from the point. It’s his 57th goal of the season. Time of goal 12:59.
🚨 3-2 Leafs. Connor McMichael chunks a shot off Joseph Woll’s body and in from behind the net. Bank shot! Time of goal 13:34. McMike responds with his 15th goal of the season 35 seconds after the Matthews’ score.
Auston Matthews scores a hat trick, but the goal is whistled back for being offside. Capitals win a huge coach’s challenge there.
🚨 4-2 Leafs. Jake McCabe tips home a Max Domi shot past Lindgren. Time of goal 19:35. Three assists now for Domi.
Leafs outshooting the Capitals 22 to 18 through two. The Capitals are out-attempted 49 to 40 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Alex Ovechkin to the box for hooking Matthew Knies at 1:10.
John Carlson to the box for slashing Tyler Bertuzzi at 4:24.
Martin Fehervary in pain on the left bench after blocking a shot with his left hand. TNT cameras shows it’s already swelling huge.
🚨 4-3 Leafs. Alex Ovechkin scores career goal number 845 on a two-on-one break with Dylan Strome. Ovi and Matthews both have 2. Time of goal 6:42.
🚨 5-3 Leafs. Bobby McMann responds 1:16 later on an odd-man rush at 7:58.
🚨 6-3 Leafs. Connor McMichael turns it over to Max Domi. Auston Matthews then finds Tyler Bertuzzi with a no-look spinorama pass at the right post. Leafs have 2 goals in 38 seconds and presumably putting this one out of reach. Matthews has four points on the night. Time of goal 8:36.
PAIN
Tom Wilson gets a double-minor for high-sticking Jason Gregor at 12:15.
🚨 7-3 Leafs. John Tavares scores on the resulting power play in front of the net. Time of goal 16:02. Make it stop.
Andddddddd it’s over. Read the RMNB recap.
Love wins, Caps don’t: Leafs beat Caps 7-3 but Ovechkin scored twice
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