The Washington Capitals are hosting the Montreal Canadiens at Capital One Arena tonight and one very special prospect is making his NHL debut. Ethen Frank, the Hershey Bears’ leading goal-scorer for the last three seasons, will lace up his skates for the first time with the Capitals.
“It’s been nothing but pure joy and happiness,” Frank said after the morning skate.
Frank is the fastest player in hockey, has a hard shot, and is an easy player to root for.
He’ll start on the third line with Lars Eller and Taylor Raddysh. Ivan Miroshnichenko was sent down to the minors to accommodate Frank at the NHL level.
Montreal comes into the game playing some good hockey and winning 9 of their last 13 games. Jakub Dobeš is making his third start in goal for the Canadiens. He’ll oppose Charlie Lindgren in net.
The Capitals-Canadiens game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Montreal Canadiens
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Ethen Frank just officially made his debut around 1:35 into the first period.
Michael Pezzetta to the box for tripping Brandon Duhaime at 2:09.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: Jakob Chychrun (12). Unassisted. Time: 02:56.
Montreal picked their poison, covering Alex Ovechkin over Jakob Chychrun on a breakdown and Chychrun scores with a huge shot past the glove.
Capitals back to the power play after Jayden Struble hooks Brandon Duhaime at 4:18.
Pierre-Luc Dubois to the box for hooking Mike Matheson at 18:54.
At intermission: The Canadiens are outshooting the Capitals 7 to 6.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Charlie Lindgren leaves the game after being run into by Nick Suzuki. Appears to be because of a concussion spotter. Logan Thompson is in.
🚨 1-1 tie. MTL Goal: Cole Caufield (23). Assists: J. Slafkovsky (19), K. Guhle (7). Time: 04:56.
Ethen Frank makes a steal in the corner, backhands it to Raddysh driving the net, and OH SO CLOSE.
Frank off to the penalty box for tripping at 5:54.
Caufield hits the crossbar. He’s asking the ref if it hit the back bar. No red light.
Montreal doesn’t score, but their back to the power play after PLD commits a delay of game penalty.
Jakob Chychrun down the tunnel. Jakob Chychrun is back. (He’s done this two times already.)
Kirby Dach to the box for tripping at 11:58.
Carrier’s skate blade pops off after Ovechkin’s slap-pass hits off his boot. The Canadiens shoved him playfully to the bench at the next whistle.
🚨 2-1 Montreal Canadiens. MTL SHG: Josh Anderson (13). Unassisted. Time: 13:22.
Rasmus Sandin has a whole lot of trouble at the offensive blue and fell over, giving Josh Anderson an easy waltz to the net. Tough luck for Sandy.
Capitals back to another power play after Jayden Struble trips Chychrun at 14:03.
Protas dings one off the post with both teams back at five-on-five.
Looks like we're going to a @RMNB goal review, and it appears… [looks closely]… the Tom Wilson completely crossed the goal line.
That is… not a goal. Montreal you score with pucks not human bodies, sillies!
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) January 11, 2025
At intermission: I don’t know how to describe that second period other than a horror show. After having six shots in the first period, they had four in the second. This is getting worrying.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 2-2 tie. WSH Goal: Lars Eller (8). Assists: E. Frank (1), T. Raddysh (14). Time: 01:54.
Ethen Frank beats an icing, dekes around a Canadiens defender, and then finds Lars Eller for the tying goal. It’s his first NHL point. What a moment and what a way to do it.
Brandon Duhaime hit in the lip with a puck. He’s staying on the bench but in some pain.
This game is going to overtime thanks to Ethen Frank.
At the end of regulation: The Canadiens outshot the Capitals 28 to 17.
Overtime
Puck is dropped.
🚨 3-2 Montreal Canadiens. MTL OTGWG: Nick Suzuki (13). Assists: C. Caufield (17), L. Hutson (28). Time: 01:15.
Suzuki scores on a broken play in front of the net. Game over.
Montreal Canadiens win 3-2 in overtime.
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