Two days after a dominant win over the Colorado Avalanche, the Washington Capitals are back on the ice to take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the same place where they lifted the Stanley Cup: T-Mobile Arena.
While the Capitals celebrated their championship there, the venue has been a house of horrors during the regular season where the Caps are winless at 0-5-1. Not only would a victory tonight break that streak, but the Capitals would also sweep the season series between the teams after they beat the Golden Knights at Capital One Arena 4-2 on October 15.
After some confusion that Hendrix Lapierre would play for Brandon Duhaime who’s hurt, Duhaime actually ended up suiting up. Meanwhile, Logan Thompson will once again face his former mates in net.
Former Capital Ilya Samsonov gets the start for Vegas. Alex Ovechkin has never scored on him.
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- Ryan Reaves suspended five games for illegal check to the head on Darnell Nurse
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The Capitals-Golden Knights game is on Monumental Sports Network+. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 8:00 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Vegas Golden Knights
Outside sewerball
pregame footy: outside edition pic.twitter.com/jJrw23s5J0
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 18, 2024
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: Alex Ovechkin (11). Assists: J. Carlson (11), D. Strome (20). Time: 11:59.
Alex Ovechkin career goal number 864. Ovechkin finally scores his first career goal on Samsonov, making the former Capital the 177th different goalie he’s beat.
🚨 2-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Jakob Chychrun (5). Assists: D. Strome (21). Time: 12:26.
Chychrun driving the center lane, beats Ilya Samsonov clean with a huge shot.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. VGK Goal: Brett Howden (7). Assists: A. Pietrangelo (12), T. Pearson (5). Time: 19:52
A fortunate bounce off the end boards goes Vegas’s way with 8 seconds to go in the period.
it’s the mcfry 20 mins:
at least we all get free fries tomorrow in the @McDonalds app 🍟 pic.twitter.com/Aku0MnQxWC
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 18, 2024
At intermission: The Capitals are outshooting the Golden Knights 11 to 6 and out-attempting them 21 to 9 at five-on-five. A dominant first 20 minutes for Washington against Vegas who is 8-1-0 at home this season.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 3-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Jakub Vrana (4). Assists: A. Protas (10), R. Sandin (7). Time: 02:49
After a great feed by Aliaksei Protas, Jakub Vrana rips it past Ilya Samsonov from the top of the right circle.
🚨 3-2 Washington Capitals. VGK Goal: Keegan Kolesar (5). Assists: T. Hertl (9), J. Eichel (23). Time: 07:24
What a curl and drag by Jack Eichel to create an open shot for himself. Keegan Kolesar buries the rebound to narrow Washington’s lead. Kolesar’s goal came during a delayed penalty call on Pierre-Luc Dubois.
A hustling Alex Ovechkin saves a goal as Ivan Barbashev has an empty net to shoot on but he deflects the puck away.
honestly what a save by Ovechkin there
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 18, 2024
Lars Eller nearly beats Samsonov with a big shot down the left wing. Sammy looked behind him unsure if the puck was still under his leg pads.
🚨 4-2 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Alex Ovechkin (12). Assists: M. Roy (3). Time: 17:38.
Alex Ovechkin scores career goal no. 865 on a 2-on-1 break with Matt Roy. He’s 29 away from Wayne Gretzky.
At intermission: The Capitals are outshooting the Golden Knights 19 to 17 and out-attempting them 44 to 36 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
With 10:24 remaining, Logan Thompson skates to the bench, seeming to favor his right shoulder. He returned to the net afterward.
Ilya Samsonov pulled for an extra man with 2:34 remaining in the third period.
🚨 5-2 Washington Capitals. WSH ENG: Alex Ovechkin (13). Assists: A. Protas (11), M. Fehervary (4). Time: 19:23.
Alex Ovechkin notches his 31st career hat trick. The tally is his 866th career goal putting him 28 away from Gretzky.
Capitals win 5-2 notching their first regular season win at T-Mobile Arena. The Caps were outshot 41 to 25 by the Golden Knights and out-attempted 68 to 58 at five-on-five, but that’s score effects friends.
Alex Ovechkin’s hat trick helps Caps beat Golden Knights 5-2
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