The Washington Capitals were back in action against the Toronto Maple Leafs after a four-day holiday break. Washington got points from 12 different skaters in their 5-2 win, taking the 2024-25 season series from the Maple Leafs, 2-1.
Oh, and Alex Ovechkin was back in the lineup. Oh, and he scored.
NHL GameScore Impact Card for Washington Capitals on 2024-12-28: pic.twitter.com/HFfiGmViGC
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) December 29, 2024
- The Capitals certainly did not have their best in Toronto but they worked hard enough, especially in the third period, to get out of town with a sweet two points. I thought the Caps were playing far too loose defensively through the first 40 minutes, seeing the Leafs create 11 high-danger chances and force Logan Thompson into some repeated heroics. They cleaned up their act enough in the final frame, though, keeping Toronto to the outside.
- Logan Thompson was the star of the show, making 35 stops in his 14th win of the season. The 27-year-old backstop is now 14-2-2 this year with a 2.40 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. Per MoneyPuck, Thompson saved 1.73 more goals than expected, increasing his season total to 11.4 and some change. Sign this man.
- Another man who needs to be signed, Jakob Chychrun, was one of two Capitals players to have a multi-point night. Chychrun’s goal in the game was his 10th of the season, making him just the third defenseman to hit double digits in goals after Zach Werenski (11) and Cale Makar (11). The 26-year-old rearguard also recorded the primary assist on Tom Wilson’s power-play goal.
Tonight marked the 20th time in 35 games the Capitals have shutout their opponent in the third period. Washington is tied with Vegas for the fewest goals against in the third period this season (25).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 29, 2024
- Alex Ovechkin was back after missing 16 games due to a broken leg. Ovechkin potted an empty netter to seal the game, the 869th goal of his career. The Great Eight is now just 25 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky (894) for a share of the NHL’s all-time goal record. The 39-year-old Russian has 16 goals in 19 games this season which leaves him STILL on pace for 55 goals.
- Andrew Mangiapane had a great night in his hometown. He scored the team’s first goal and drew the penalty that led to Wilson’s marker.
- The 2025 World Junior Championship is through three days of action. Capitals prospects Cole Hutson, Petr Sikora, Ryan Leonard, and Eriks Mateiko have combined to record 13 points (4g, 9a) over a combined eight games.
Numbers thanks to Hockey-Reference, NaturalStatTrick, and HockeyStatCards.
