The Washington Capitals traveled north of the border to take on another capital city club in the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. Ottawa has been hot lately, winning three in a row coming into the game.
A grand total of zero goals from either team through the full 60 minutes of regulation. Alex Ovechkin put away the overtime winner.
Capitals beat Senators 1-0!
- The first period was not great for the Capitals. Ottawa found consistent holes in the team’s man-to-man defense and were unlucky not to be up one or two goals at the first intermission. Martin Fehervary and Matt Roy got absolutely pummeled, with the Caps out-attempted by 10 and out-chanced by 5 with them on the ice at five-on-five in the first frame.
- Tom Wilson threw a late hit on Jake Sanderson after the buzzer to end the first and created a big mess in Ottawa’s zone. The Capitals were assessed two minor penalties after the ensuing fracas, one to Wilson for roughing and another to Wilson for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ottawa’s Ridly Greig was also given a minor for roughing. I point this out because the whole thing was incredibly pointless and only hurt the Caps.
- Jakob Chychrun made his first return to Ottawa after being dealt to Washington by the Senators in a trade that saw Nick Jensen head the other way. Chychrun, who recently spoke about a possible extension with Washington, was expecting some boos from Senators fans but didn’t seem to get many.
5:23 pm: Snow showers moving into the area from the northwest. Will dot the region next few hours. Could briefly come down moderately, with about a coating to half an inch in heaviest zones. Roads and sidewalks may become slick.
Details at https://t.co/O5ePGELT71 pic.twitter.com/ngbtLb0pCL
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) January 16, 2025
- The Capitals had one shot on goal in the second period for over 12 minutes. Luckily, they were much better defensively, but, man, they don’t have their game again. Spencer Carbery is not going to be thrilled.
- The goaltender interference call on Dylan Strome is possibly one of the worst I have ever seen. Leevi Meriläinen was almost in the slot when Strome ran into him. How in the world was Strome supposed to avoid that? Stripes, be better.
- I thought Nic Dowd had a super rough first half of the game. He couldn’t touch the puck without turning it over and took his team-leading 16th minor penalty.
- No Capitals forwards had more than one shot on goal through 40 minutes. Alex Ovechkin had zero.
12 minutes into the second and the Capitals have one shot on goal in the period.
Can they play the Anaheim Ducks every game?
— RMNB (@rmnb) January 17, 2025
- After just nine total shot attempts in the second, the Capitals turned up the heat in the third. Pretty good final period, boosted by the momentum they created on their lone power play chance. They faded near the end but did enough to get the game to an extra frame.
- Logan Thompson was outstanding yet again, posting his second shutout in a row. Is anyone else wondering what the Capitals might do when Charlie Lindgren gets activated from the injured reserve in a few days? Do they just go right back to splitting starts?
- Alex Ovechkin won the game with his 874th career goal.
A mid-first-period look at your #JoeBSuitOfTheNight pic.twitter.com/XcmKgVh4Gp
— RMNB (@rmnb) January 17, 2025
The Capitals will now return home for a rivalry night matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.
