Hockey returns to network television today as the Washington Capitals play the New York Rangers on ABC shortly after noon.
Former Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette brings the Rangers into town sporting the worst record in the NHL over the last 20 games. The Rangers are 5-15-0 and have been outscored a concerning 73-42. Meanwhile, their star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, is out due to injury, which may not help things.
Spencer Carbery, fed up with his team’s five-on-five play of recent, has wholesale changed the lineup looking for a spark. Connor McMichael is back at center, pushing Lars Eller, who’s struggled, to the wing.
The Capitals-Rangers game is airing nationally on ABC. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin DO NOT have the call. Puck drop is at some point after 12:00 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
New York Rangers
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck drop finally happens at 12:19 pm.
Logan Thompson with a huge glove save on Mike Zibanejad 1:08 in. Zibanejad had a wide open shot in the lower slot.
Rangers are making a big push early finishing their checks. They have the game’s first two shots and and six shot attempts.
The Capitals’ first shot comes from Alex Ovechkin three minutes and change into the game.
🚨 1-0 New York Rangers. NYR Goal: Chris Kreider (13). Unassisted. Time: 07:00.
Logan Thompson attempts to clear, but instead passes it right to Kreider who shoots it into the empty net. Guys.
Capitals get the first power play of the game as Will Borgen holds Pierre-Luc Dubois along the boards. They have PPG’s in five of their last 6 games.
Alex Ovechkin to the box for slashing Mika Zibanejad at 13:06.
Aliaksei Protas nearly scores shorthanded but misses the net on his semi-breakaway.
Brett Berard to the box for holding at 18:06. Caps back to the PP.
🚨 1-1 tie. WSH PPG: Dylan Strome (12). Assists: J. Chychrun (15), T. Wilson (14). Time: 18:46.
Chaos in front of the net, Dylan Strome finds the rebound and scores on the power play to tie the game 1-1. The Capitals have PPGs in 6 of their last 7. Ovechkin bowled over Quick about 7 to 10 seconds before the goal. Quick wanted the Rangers to challenge for goalie interference, but on a borderline call at 1-1, they weren’t risking a penalty there.
At intermission: The game is tied 1-1. The Capitals and Rangers are tied 10 to 10 in shots. The Rangers are dominating the Capitals in shot attempts at five-on-five, 23 to 11.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Lars Eller (7). Assists: M. Fehervary (8), T. van Riemsdyk (13). Time: 02:29.
New Caps’ third line strikes. Lars Eller deflects a Martin Fehervary shot past Jonathan Quick. Caps have their first lead of the game, 2-1, 22:29 into the game.
🚨 3-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Andrew Mangiapane (9). Assists: N. Dowd (5), R. Sandin (13). Time: 10:08.
Mangiapane scores on a rebound. This game is unraveling fast for the Rangers. Caps have three consecutive goals.
Ryan Lindgren leaking as he skates off the ice.
🚨 3-2 Washington Capitals. NYR Goal: Will Cuylle (12). Assists: F. Chytil (8), W. Borgen (2). Time: 13:04.
Capitals take time out. Carbery is examining replays of the goal under the bench.
Capitals are challenging the goal for the Rangers entering the zone offside.
Cuylle’s goal is taken away due to a Coach’s Challenge.
Brandon Duhaime to the box for cross-checking at 13:23.
🚨 3-2 Washington Capitals. NYR Goal: Sam Carrick (2). Assists: A. Edstrom (3). Time: 16:26.
Alex Ovechkin, along the sideboards, tries to break out of the Capitals zone… and passes it directly to the Rangers’ Carrick for a 10-foot breakaway. Both Rangers’ goals have come on terrible Caps giveaways.
Ryan Lindgren with a delay of game penalty. Capitals back to the power play. Get it back, Ovi!
During the break in play before the power play, Logan Thompson embraced Ovi and patted him on the helmet.
Rangers nearly score twice while shorthanded.
🚨 4-2 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: Connor McMichael (17). Assists: D. Strome (31), A. Mangiapane (7). Time: 18:13.
A perfect pass from Strome to McMichael in the bumper spot for the redirect.
Rasmus Sandin limping off the ice in the final minute of the second period.
At intermission: The Capitals have taken a commanding 4-2 lead. The Rangers lead in shots 19 to 18 and in five-on-five shot attempts 40 to 26
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Nic Dowd to the box for slashing 20 seconds into the period. Bro is a penalty machine this season. This one was in the offensive zone, making it even worse.
Will Cuylle to the box for high-sticking John Carlson as he gets checked into the boards. Capitals back to the power play. They’ve already scored twice today on the man advantage.
Dubois negates the final 16 seconds of the power play for tripping Adam Fox at 5:44.
🚨 4-3 Washington Capitals. NYR Goal: Filip Chytil (8). Assists: U. Vaakanainen (2), B. Schneider (8). Time: 08:32.
Sandin and Chychrun with bad defensive coverage, giving Chytil a breakaway goal. Chytil roofed it past Thompson.
🚨 5-3 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Alex Ovechkin (19). Assists: D. Strome (32). Time: 10:50.
Alex Ovechkin career goal no. 872, right off a faceoff. He’s 22 away from Wayne Gretzky.
🚨 5-4 Washington Capitals. NYR Goal: Mika Zibanejad (8). Assists: R. Smith (11). Time: 13:04.
🚨 6-4 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Aliaksei Protas (17). Assists: P. Dubois (25), J. Chychrun (16). Time: 14:00.
Protas finds the rebound. He has a career high 17th goal of the season. That’s four goals in 5:28 of game action. Dizzying!
Jonathan Quick is pulled for an extra attacker with around 2 minutes remaining in the game.
🚨 7-4 Washington Capitals. WSH ENG: Tom Wilson (16). Assists:A. Ovechkin (11), M. Fehervary (9). Time: 19:22.
WHIPPED UP SOME NUGGS
Enjoy a free 6-piece Chicken McNuggets with minimum $1 purchase tomorrow on the app. #ALLCAPS | @McDonalds pic.twitter.com/JxqZV5UQnL
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 4, 2025
Ovechkin from the side boards bunts the puck up to Wilson who skates the puck down the ice and scores on the empty net. Nuggets for everyone.
Capitals win 7-4. Fun game for a nooner. Rangers with a great effort outshooting the Caps 33 to 28, but the Caps’ offense and a great Coach’s Challenge by Spencer Carbery was just too much.
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