After going undefeated in a huge three-game road trip, the Washington Capitals are back home but without their captain. Alex Ovechkin is out four to six weeks due to a fractured tibula. The Capitals made the announcement before game time.
In what is the ultimate bummer, Ovechkin was riding one of the hottest streaks of his career at the time of injury, scoring five goals in two games before exiting against the Utah Hockey Club on Monday.
The Capitals will turn to Andrew Mangiapane, who will skate on the first line in place of The Great 8. Hendrix Lapierre will return to the lineup on the wing of the third line. Meanwhile, Ivan Miroshnichenko waits in the wings as a reserve.
Must-read material from RMNB
- Alex Ovechkin fractured fibula in left leg, will be sidelined four to six weeks
- I demand birthday presents
- Andrew Mangiapane will play on first line in Capitals’ first game without Alex Ovechkin
- Hendrix Lapierre primed for more opportunity with Alex Ovechkin’s absence shaking up Capitals lineup
- Capitals come to terms with rare injury to Alex Ovechkin: ‘It was emotional at first’
- Sonny Milano moved to long-term injured reserve after not traveling with team on three-game road trip
- The incredible accomplishments the Capitals’ offense had before Alex Ovechkin exited the lineup due to injury
The Capitals-Avalanche game is on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 7:00 pm. Tonight is Hockey Fights Cancer Night.
A great gesture from the Capitals on Hockey Fights Cancer night: names of cancer patients and survivors were displayed on the ice before warmups.
Includes players and staffs' family and friends, as well as children from Make-A-Wish and the team's Hockey Fights Cancer skate. pic.twitter.com/Q8sqsQ0riO
— Katie Adler (@katieEadler) November 21, 2024
Lines
Washington Capitals
Colorado Avalanche
Tunnel shenanigans
So happy to be home#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/SGgvDadp4R
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 21, 2024
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Jakob Chychrun trips Nathan MacKinnon and goes to the box at 3:01 of the first period.
Tom Wilson outraced three Avalanche players in a race for a loose puck, but Georgiev left his crease and got there first to clear it away at the blue line.
Capitals get their first power play and John Carlson is set up in Ovi’s Office on the first unit power-play. Jakob Chychrun replaced Carlson at the point.
Dubois and McMichael nearly connect on a rush.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Pierre-Luc Dubois (2). Assists: T. Wilson (8). Time: 17:14.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, after being snakebit in the first 18 games of the season, finally has his first 5v5 goal. Tom Wilson set him up for a layup down the left wing.
At intermission: The Capitals lead 1-0. Washington is outshooting the Avalanche 12 to 6 and out-attempting them 15 to 9 at 5v5. This is the exact response you want to see with Ovi out injured.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
PLD nearly scores on a semi-breakaway but Georgiev goes to the splits to make a left pad save.
Here’s how the Capitals power play units are lining up without Alex Ovechkin.
How the Capitals’ two power-play units lined up in first game without Alex Ovechkin
Huge save by Logan Thompson on Cale Makar. His best of the night.
🚨 1-1 tie. COL PPG: Mikko Rantanen (13). Assists: J. Drouin (2). Time: 14:19.
He just makes it look so easy 🤩#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/nYsYkbiagU
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 22, 2024
A Rantanen centering pass clicks off Matt Roy’s skate boot and into the Capitals net during an Avalanche power play. Rantanen has 9 goals in his last 8 games.
Connor McMichael dekes Georgiev to the ice on a breakaway, but runs out of room and sends the puck through the crease on his forehand.
McMichael gets another breakaway on the same shift. This time, he tries to go to his forehand but Georgiev pokechecks the puck away.
McMichael is stewing at the Caps bench, putting his head in his hands in disappointment.
Cale Makar, my goodness.
He just makes it look so easy 🤩#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/nYsYkbiagU
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 22, 2024
From point blank range, Thompson huge save on Artturi Lehkonen with his left pad.
At intermission: The game is tied 1-1. Colorado now leads in shots 19 to 15 overall after outshooting the Capitals 13 to 3 in the period. They are also out-attempting Washington 32 to 24 at 5v5.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Drouin can’t finish on a semi-breakaway after MacKinnon sets him up beautifully.
🚨 2-1 Colorado Avalanche. COL Goal: Miles Wood (2). Time: 03:29.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
We don't know, but Miles Wood just gave us a 2-1 lead 🎉#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/JfAZ6apSr4
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 22, 2024
Aliaksei Protas to the box for high sticking.
Dubois draws a penalty on Kylington after they collide in the Avs defensive zone. I dunno if that was a penalty, but Caps have a chance to tie here.
Capitals pull Thompson for an extra attacker around the 2 minute mark.
McMichael hits the post.
Nischuskin misses the empty net by just a few feet.
Capitals lose 2-1. The Capitals outshot the Avalanche 30 to 27 but Colorado out-attempted Washington 49 to 40 at 5v5. A bit of a snoozer without Ovechkin. Caps just didn’t bring the urgency after the first period.
Avs beat Caps 2-1, Caps stunned by existence of second, third periods
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