For the first time in 13 days, the Washington Capitals are back in action. Today, our dearest Screagles from DC will take on the flightless birds of Pittsburgh – a rivalry matchup that dates back to my early childhood where I may or may not have yelled unwholesome things at Penguins players walking out the tunnel at USAir Arena.
Sidney Crosby, who may be nursing some injury issues due to the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, will play. So, too, will Evgeni Malkin, who announced over break he’s best friends with Alex Ovechkin.
Logan Thompson will start for the Capitals. And Ovi had his Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, so he should be raring to go.
The Capitals-Penguins game is airing at 3 pm on ABC.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
ABC cuts into the game with two minutes elapsed because it’s beginning game, the Wild vs the Red Wings, went long and went into overtime.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Ethen Frank (4). Assists: A. Mangiapane (9), R. Sandin (16). Time: 05:13.
Mangiapane takes the puck hard to the net and Ethen Frank finds the rebound and deflects it in. The goal was reviewed for being kicked in, but it was ruled Frank did not have a distinct kicking motion. That’s his fourth goal in 15 games for the Caps. Not only has this kid earned a spot in Washington for the rest of the season, but he may start the playoffs.
Pierre-Luc Dubois and Vincent Desharnais to the box for matching minors for roughing at 06:50. Both players were giving each other face washes in the corner boards behind the play. 4-on-4 for two minutes.
Wilson has a moment with Desharnais have a moment after the whistle 12:09 into the first. Wilson appeared to be letting Desharnais know he did not appreciate him going after PLD earlier.
Lars Eller to the box for hooking Cody Glass at 15:36.
Kevin Hayes clangs one loudly off the post early in the Penguins’ power play after a sensational centering pass by Crosby.
Jakob Chychrun called for holding Evgeni Malkin. (He’s already gotten away with several penalties in shifts earlier.) Though it takes a few minutes to get Chychrun to the box after the penalty is initially called on Pierre-Luc Dubois. The minor occurred at 17:04.
🚨 1-1 tie. PGH PPG: TANGER (8). Assists: E. Malkin (26), P. Tomasino (7). Time: 18:21.
Kris Letang scores on a one-timer from the Ovi spot. The puck clanged off the top of Thompson’s catching glove and in. That’s Letang’s first goal in 22 games.
At intermission: The game’s tied 1-1. The Penguins outshot the Capitals 9 to 4 in the first period and out-attempted them 19 to 12 at five-on-five. The Capitals’ first 10 minutes started well, but then their play started falling off a cliff after that.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Martin Fehervary (2). Assists: B. Duhaime (8), T. Raddysh (17). Time: 01:10.
Duhaime with a great sauce pass to Fehervary, who ripped a shot past Nedeljkovic. The entire play was thanks to Nic Dowd, who got the play going with a great pass out of the defensive zone.
🚨 2-2 tie. PGH Goal: Sidney Crosby (18). Assists: R. Rakell (24), E. Karlsson (33). Time: 06:36.
A classic Sidney Crosby backhander leaks through Logan Thompson.
🚨 3-2 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Jakob Chychrun (15). Assists: P. Dubois (32), C. McMichael (23). Time: 10:38.
Chychrun dances around Desharnais and beats Ned short side for his 15th goal of the season. Wow.
🚨 4-2 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Jakob Chychrun (16). Assists: P. Dubois (33), T. van Riemsdyk (16). Time: 14:17.
Chychrun’s point shot goes off the far post and in, beating a screened Ned.
🚨 5-2 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Aliaksei Protas (23). Assists: R. Sandin (17), J. Carlson (32). Time: 14:25.
That’s two goals for the Capitals in 8 seconds.
Joel Blomqvist is replacing Alex Nedeljkovic in net at 14:25.
🚨 6-2 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Tom Wilson (25). Assists: M. Fehervary (13), M. Roy (14). Time: 18:05.
The Capitals have 6 goals on their first 15 shots on net against the Penguins. A real Tristan Jarry-like outing from Pittsburgh's goaltenders today.
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) February 22, 2025
At intermission: JFC. Caps lead 6-2. They scored five goals on the Penguins in the second. The Penguins lead in shots 21 to 18 and in five-on-five attempts 38 to 31.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Alex Ovechkin nearly scores on a rebound but Blomqvist gets over just in time.
Vincent Desharnais to the box at 2:26 for holding Brandon Duhaime. Caps to the power play.
Another great chance for Ovechkin but Blomqvist comes out and challenges, making a huge stop.
Dylan Strome gets high-sticked near the right eye by Kris Letang. It’s a four-minute double minor. Five-on-three upcoming here for the Caps for 1:27.
Ovechkin hits the post.
Caps can’t score on the long power play.
Holy shift.
Alex Ovechkin just completed a 4:43 shift during that long Capitals power play in the third period. And he was dangerous the entire time.
Per the NHL game sheet: pic.twitter.com/CZTbAwGg5t
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) February 22, 2025
Evgeni Malkin to the box for a holding penalty at 12:16.
🚨 7-2 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: Dylan Strome (17). Assists: T. Raddysh (18), P. Dubois (34). Time: 13:11.
A wicked wrister from Strome at the right circle finds paydirt.
🚨 7-3 Washington Capitals. PGH Goal: Philip Tomasino (8). Assists: K. Hayes (6), P. Tomasino (8). Time: 14:22.
🚨 8-3 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Brandon Duhaime (7). Assists: M. Roy (15). Time: 17:19.
Capitals win 8-3. Pittsburgh outshot Washington 33 to 31 and out-attempted them at 5v5, 64 to 47.
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