The Washington Capitals returned from their long winter’s nap to visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in Canada. The Leafs were without their captain Auston Matthews, but the Caps welcomed captain Alex Ovechkin back into active play.
The Leafs scored first as Max Pacioretty forced a turnover that allowed John Tavares to tip it in. Andrew Mangiapane was given too much space, tying the game just 90 seconds later. Before the first period was up, Jakob Chychrun launched a one-timer from above the faceoff dot to give Washington the lead.
Bobby McMann brought the game even in the second period with a rush attack, but the Caps again responded promptly; Nic Dowd restored the lead about 100 seconds later.
The Caps extended their lead in the third period with a power-play goal. Tom Wilson got the last touch, but the real playmaker there was Dylan Strome, who stole the puck behind the goal line. As soon as the net was emptied, Alex Ovechkin hit the back of it.
Caps win!
- Alex Ovechkin returned to play for his first game since breaking his leg, basically, on November 18. Spencer Carbery said he was “full-go,” but he fully didn’t, playing about 90 seconds less than linemate Dylan Strome. That’s fine. He got his goal anyway, but we’re still going to ease him back into this. He’s got a lot of time before 5 PM tomorrow, when he needs to bury the Wings in pucks.
- A lot of this game was played at full-strength five-on-five. When whistles were blown, one was an astonishing softy against Pierre-Luc Dubois for having his stick in the general vicinity of William Nylander.
- Dubois’ line with Wilson and McMichael really, really struggled. They couldn’t get anything going and were on the ice for that opening Tavares goal.
- Though I really have to give credit to Max Pacioretty for the heads-up play to make that goal happen. RMNB alum Ana is responsible for me loving Patches back in his Habs days, but I thought he was cooked by the time he came to Washington. I’m glad he’s still got some spark. Wish he had it another night though.
- Back to Nylander, I hope this save by Logan Thompson haunts him.
- Also having a rough night was the defensive pairing of Matt Roy and Martin Fehervary, who drew the short straw to match against Nylander. I already pumped Pacioretty’s tires, so I can’t praise another Leafs player here, but if I did it’d be Willy.
- Nic Dowd did not commit a penalty. He’s gone two full weeks and seven games since his last whistle. He scored a goal also.
- I hate that Lars Eller is still out with an illness. It’s been ten days. They’ll disclose it when they want to disclose it, but I worry.
- From the Enron out-of-town scoreboard, the Rangers fell to the Bolts. Desus called it first, but I’m backing him up. It’s happening. Bank it.
peter laviolette better count his days
— Desus MF Nice💯 (@desusnice) December 29, 2024
- I love Alan May. He loves me too. I’m glad he’s filling in for Craig Laughlin for a while. He’s a smart and gracious analyst. I’ll politely ask the production team to get some low end into his audio signal. Sounds like he’s singing the intro to “Dead And Bloated”.
And we're back #joebsuitofthenight pic.twitter.com/iLRP4LExN1
— RMNB (@rmnb) December 28, 2024
I’m a humble guy. I don’t ask for much. All I wanted tonight was a healthy Ovechkin, a well-played game, two standings points, a humiliating loss for Toronto, Dowd not to reach with his stick, an empty-netter for Ovi, a flashy glove save, and to know the Rangers are losing elsewhere. That’s enough for me. Tis a gift to be simple tis a gift to be free
See you in like 20 hours. The Red Wings will be rested, but they will also be the Red Wings, so it’s a wash.
