The Washington Capitals are back in action after a seemingly forever three-day break. Looking to avenge a 2-1 loss to lowly San Jose, the Capitals will turn their focus to an always dangerous Toronto Maple Leafs team featuring Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
The Capitals are still without Ovi, who’s recovering (quickly) from a fractured fibula. Charlie Lindgren will face Anthony Stolarz in net. Fun fact: the Capitals have not beaten Toronto once over the last two seasons.
The Capitals-Leafs game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 7:00 pm.
The Capitals can set the record for their longest road winning streak of all time with a victory tonight (8).
Lines
Washington Capitals
Toronto Maple Leafs
Tunnel shenanigans (featuring neon blue lighting!)
Tunnel antics but make it with neat lighting#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/LdbJtDsxn3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 6, 2024
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Capitals have the first four shots on net. First five minutes featuring a lot of skating, pressure, and hitting.
Tom Wilson with a huge hit on Pontus Holmberg. John Tavares later nails Rasmus Sandin into the end boards.
Stolarz spins around and falls over after a cross-ice slap pass by Andrew Mangiapane to Hendrix Lapierre fakes him out. Was funny. Not going to lie.
OEL high-sticks Tom Wilson at the 8:29 mark giving the Capitals the first power play of the game.
Jakob Chychrun hooks William Nylander on a breakaway giving Toronto a power play at 11:15 of the period.
The Leafs power play basically had nonstop high-danger chances, but somehow the Caps kill it with some fortunate saves and bounces.
Capitals back to the power play as Holmberg takes a trip at 13:27, right after the Leafs’ power play ends.
We go four-on-four after 21 seconds due to a John Carlson interference penalty. Carlson is holding his arms up like what the heck.
At intermission: The game remains tied at 0. The Capitals lead the Leafs in shots 8 to 5 and are out-attemping them 20 to 11 at five-on-five — though that seems a bit deceptive because Toronto could have easily scored five different times during the period. Fun game so far.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Nic Dowd (8). Assists: M. Roy (5). Time: 01:06.
Nic Dowd hustles in front of the net and deflects the puck with the heel of his stick past Stolarz.
Matt Roy lays out Mitch Marner along the bench.
Breakaway, William Nylander, but he misses the net on his backhand.
🚨 1-1 tie. TOR Goal: John Tavares (12). Assists: C. Tanev (6). Time: 11:31.
JOHNNY ARE YA KIDDING!
(also what a pass from Tanny) pic.twitter.com/wqnftaI10j
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 7, 2024
John Tavares with a ridiculously beautiful breakaway goal.
At intermission: We are tied 1-1. The Capitals are outshooting the Leafs 15 to 14 and out-attempting them 45 to 28 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
OEL to the box for slashing at 3:19. Big power play for the Capitals.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (15). Assists: P. Dubois (14). Time: 09:51.
McMichael scores in front of the net after an Auston Matthews turnover. The puck went right into the crease. McMichael grew up in Ajax about 20 miles outside of Toronto. McMichael is tied with Ovechkin now for the team lead in goals.
Leafs pull Stolarz with about 1:40 remaining.
Incredible saves by Lindgren in front of the net after Martin Fehervary loses his helmet.
🚨 3-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Aliaksei Protas (9). Assists: N. Dowd (3), T. Wilson (11). Time: 19:03.
Caps win the draw. Tom Wilson skates it hard up the boards and finds Dowd. Dowd hits Protas and the Big Pro hits the empty net.
Capitals win 3-1. Washington outshoots Toronto 26 to 21 and out-attempted them 63 to 39 at five-on-five.
Caps beat Leafs 3-1, but Caps and Leafs agree that refs are bad
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