The Washington Capitals are in The Windy City tonight to complete their second back-to-back of December. They’ll face off against the Chicago Blackhawks and young star Connor Bedard.
The Blackhawks are 10-19-2 this season and sit seventh in the Central Division with 22 standings points. Bedard leads the team in points (7g, 19a) while Ryan Donato paces the team with 10 goals.The Blackhawks are coming off a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday, where Bedard scored one of the biggest goals of his young career.
Washington’s long road winning-streak ended against the Dallas Stars last night despite an overall good performance at five-on-five. Though if the Caps think the Blackhawks are going to roll over for the Caps, Spencer Carbery had a big warning to his group pregame.
“Chicago doesn’t feel sorry for us because we’re on a back-to-back,” Carbery said. “They know one of the top teams in the NHL standing wise are coming into their building and they are going to take the best crack they can at us.”
Jakub Vrana will remain in the lineup and skate on the third line while Hendrix Lapierre will sit. Logan Thompson will oppose Arvid Soderblom in net.
The Capitals-Blackhawks game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 8:30 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Chicago Blackhawks
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Pierre-Luc Dubois (5). Assists: Unassisted. Time: 04:16.
Pierre-Luc Dubois filters the puck through Arvid Soderblom and the frozen biscuit has just enough momentum to cross the goal line.
Dubois called for tripping Frank Nazar at the 9:32 mark of the first frame.
🚨 2-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Andrew Mangiapane (7). Assists: L. Eller (7), J. Vrana (4). Time: 13:18.
Andrew Mangiapane completely undresses TJ Brodie with a beautiful move and outwaits Soderblom for the finish.
At intermission: The Capitals are up 2-0. Chicago leads in shots 9 to 5. The Blackhawks also have the better of the five-on-five shot attempts, 21 to 12.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
The Capitals take a bench minor for too many men on the ice at the 11:33 mark of the second period.
Washington killed that penalty off and then immediately took another too many men on the ice penalty with 9:22 left in the period. Yikes.
The Capitals have just seven shots on goal over halfway through the game.
Trevor van Riemsdyk trips Ilya Mikheyev to put Chicago on yet another power play with 5:34 left in the second.
John Carlson draws the Capitals’ first power play of the game, hooking on Nazar with 53 seconds remaining in the period.
At intermission: The Capitals are still up 2-0. Chicago leads in shots 19 to 11 and five-on-five shot attempts 35 to 18.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. CHI Goal: Ilya Mikheyev (4). Assists: T. Teravainen (10). Time: 00:49.
Ilya Mikheyev pots a shorthanded goal after picking off a Jakob Chychrun pass.
Lukas Reichel called for tripping Mangiapane with 7:05 gone in the third.
Big scrum in front of Chicago’s net sees Tom Wilson take some punches to the fish bowl from Nick Foligno.
Foligno and Wilson receive matching minors for roughing with 9:07 left in regulation.
🚨 2-2 Tie. CHI Goal: TJ Brodie (2). Assists: I. Mikheyev (5), T. Teravainen (11). Time: 14:07.
Brodie ties the game with the finish on a rush chance past Logan Thompson.
🚨 3-2 Chicago Blackhawks. CHI Goal: Ryan Donato (11). Assists: C. Murphy (11), T. Teravainen (12). Time: 17:42.
Ryan Donato’s power move puts the Blackhawks in front.
Connor Murphy takes a high-sticking penalty with 11 seconds left in the final frame.
Capitals lose 3-2. Chicago outshot Washington 23-21. The Blackhawks out-attempted the Capitals 43 to 38 at five-on-five.
Comment below. Refresh for live updates during the game. The thread will be closed shortly after the game is completed.
