Friends, we’ve got hockey at 5 pm on a Sunday. Welcome to the Caps-Kings live blog. I’m envisioning this music playing in the background.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight. We’re happy tonight. Skating into a pre-holiday back-to-back.
The Capitals will turn to Logan Thompson in net. Henrik Rybinski will not make his NHL debut. The Kings tonight end their long seven-game road streak tonight.
The Capitals-Kings game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 5:00 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Los Angeles Kings
A Darcy Kuemper sign
— RMNB (@rmnb) December 22, 2024
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Slow start to this game as both teams are playing committed defense.
And just like that – the Caps score.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Aliaksei Protas (13). Assists: P. Dubois (19), C. McMichael (13). Time: 10:20.
The Capitals force a turnover in the offensive zone, springing Protas on a rewind breakaway. That’s Big Pro’s fourth goal in the last six games.
At intermission: Minus the one play, that period was “plodding” as per DSP on Monumental Sports Network. The Capitals are outshooting the Kings 8 to 7. The Kings have a slight edge in shot attempts 14 to 13 at five-on-five. Basically, I’m gonna fall asleep if the next period doesn’t pick up.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Trevor van Riemsdyk chips it over the glass in the offensive zone and takes a delay of game penalty at 3:53. That’s TVR’s fourth penalty of the season.
🚨 1-1 tie. LAK PPG: Kevin Fiala (13). Assists: A. Kempe (16), B. Clarke (16). Time: 04:10.
Fiala-la-la-LA POWER PLAY GOAL pic.twitter.com/UqX4u7iChm
— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 22, 2024
Fiala strikes on the resulting power play to tie it up.
Now Fiala gets a DOG penalty. The Caps are 3 for their last 23 on the power play.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: Jakub Vrana (6). Assists: P. Dubois (20). Time: 14:18.
The Capitals convert on the PP. Vrana’s got goals in consecutive games. He benefitted from a Kings clear that hit off the linesman, which kept the puck in the zone. Kings players were very angry.
Jakub Chychrun hits the post.
At intermission: Capitals lead 2-1 (thanks refs!). Kings outshooting the Caps 17 to 15 and five-on-five attempts are tied 27 to 27.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Fiala races in on a breakaway, but Rasmus Sandin jostles him just enough to force the attempt to miss the net.
Nic Dowd sets up Ivan Miroshnichenko for a chance, but he hits the post.
Miroshnichenko has been benched in the second and third periods.
🚨 3-1 Washington Capitals. WSH ENG: Aliaksei Protas (14). Unassisted. Time: 19:06.
Protas has five goals in his last six and two multi-goal games during that stretch.
Caps win 3-1. Kings outshoot the Caps 26 to 21 and out-attempted them 50 to 38 at five-on-five.
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