Welcome to the Capitals’ final game before the 4 Nations Face-Off break, and the stakes are clear. With a win against The Club, the Capitals can go into their 12-day break between games with the most standings points in the NHL.
The last time these two teams played, the Capitals won 6-2 on November 18, but Alex Ovechkin was lost for over a month due to a broken leg. Ovechkin collided with Jack McBain in the game, and the 6-foot-4 Utah HC forward later settled his differences with Tom Wilson in a fight.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery does not expect there to be any carry-over, but this match-up could be a physical one.
“I don’t think so,” Carbery said Sunday morning. “I think that was sort of settled there in their building. From all accounts, it was an accident. It wasn’t a purposeful situation, so I don’t think so.”
The Capitals-Utah HC game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Alan May will have the call. Craig Laughlin is out due to a medical leave of absence. #LockerStrong. Puck drop is a little after 12:30 pm.
The Capitals are 10-0-4 in their last 14 games at home.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Utah Hockey Club
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Capitals hold a ceremony on the ice honoring John Carlson for hitting 700th points in January.
Puck is dropped.
Uh oh.
🚨 1-0 Utah hockey Club. UTAH Goal: Josh Doan (4). Assists: J. McBain (6), C. Ingram (2). Time: 01:10.
Double uh oh.
🚨 2-0 Utah hockey Club. UTAH Goal: Michael Carcone (5). Assists: D. Guenther (21), N. DeSimone (4). Time: 01:42.
Utah has goals on its first two shots on goal. Caps look completely out of it after the pregame ceremony.
Ethen Frank draws a tripping penalty on Olli Määttä at 03:15.
🚨 2-1 Utah hockey Club. WSH PPG: Tom Wilson (23). Assists: P. Dubois (31), D. Strome (38). Time: 03:47.
Tom Wilson, who now has double digits in power play goals, scores from the slot after Utah shades Alex Ovechkin a bit too much.
🚨 3-1 Utah hockey Club. UTAH Goal: Jack McBain (11). Assists: M. Kesselring (16), J. Doan (5). Time: 07:07.
Thompson has surrendered three goals on his first seven shots. Carbery is leaving him in.
Ingram with a big save on Alex Ovechkin. The huge shot was going 98 MPH per Alan May on the Monumental Sports Network telecast.
🚨 3-2 Utah hockey Club. WSH PPG: Pierre-Luc Dubois (13). Assists: T. Wilson (18), A. Ovechkin (15). Time: 12:38.
Ovechkin with another huge high shot on Ingram that leads to Dubois’s goal. Ingram is down dazed, crouching down on the ice. Ovechkin’s shot hit him high in the chest.
Karel Vejmelka is replacing Connor Ingram in net at 12:38.
Ethen Frank negates another icing. Fans at Capital One Arena gasped as he closed the distance.
Aliaksei Protas sends a one-timer from the slot hard off the post. Ohmygosh so close.
At intermission: the Capitals lead in shots 15 to 9, but The Club leads in 5v5 shot attempts 18 to 13.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Brandon Duhaime to the box for holding at 01:29.
🚨 4-2 Utah hockey Club. UTAH PPG: Dylan Guenther (20). Assists: C. Keller (40), M. Sergachev (26). Time: 02:47.
Another big third-period goal from the Capitals to make this one a game down the stretch. Great pass by Ovi to find Strome in front of the net.
Dylan Strome was in major pain causing a whistle. He was helped off the ice by John Carlson and Connor McMichael. He briefly went down the tunnel but returned. Upon replay, Strome blocked a shot with his right knee.
🚨 4-4 Utah hockey Club. WSH Goal: Tom Wilson (24). Assists: A. Ovechkin (17), J. Carlson (31). Time: 18:29.
Incredible pass by Ovi for the Wilson deflection and we’re going to overtime!
The game ends at regulation tied 4-4. The Capitals outshot Utah 40 to 27, but The Club out-attempted the Capitals at 5v5, 55 to 53.
Overtime
Puck is dropped.
Lots of skating and weaving, not much shooting.
Vejmelka makes a huge save towards the end of overtime on Jakob Chychrun. Another great pass by Alex Ovechkin.
We’re going to the shootout.
Shootout
❌ Pierre-Luc Dubois is stopped by Vejmelka on his forehand.
✅ Nick Schmaltz with some nasty moves, dekes left and then quickly goes back to his forehand beating Thompson.
❌ Aliaksei Protas fires a pedestrian shot on Vejmelka that is stopped.
❌ Clayton Keller dangles a bunch but fires wide of the goal.
❌ Dylan Strome fakes and is stopped by Vejmelka.
Utah wins 5-4 in the shootout.
Going into the break with a skills competition defeat: Utahns beat Capitals 5-4 (SO)
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