Live from D.C. it’s Tuesday night!
Normally a game that might cause a quiet crowd or a lackadaisical effort, the something-to-prove Washington Capitals are back not only to continue their quest for a fourth Presidents’ Trophy, but to end Alex Ovechkin chase of Wayne Gretzky’s goals record before season’s end.
Sunday, Ovechkin scored his 880th, 881st, and 882nd goals — his 32nd career hat trick — in the Capitals’ 7-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Connor McDavid, the man who tallied the 4 Nations Face-Off-winning overtime goal, was held to a single assist. The Capitals scored 15 goals during their back-to-back weekend games against the Oilers and Penguins.
Tonight the Capitals will match up against the Calgary Flames. Logan Thompson will start in net against his old team. The Capitals will roll with the same exact lines because of course they are.
Puck drop for Caps-Flames is a little after 7 pm on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Alan May have the call.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Calgary Flames
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Seems like the ice is struggling a bit tonight. Puck has a mind of its own.
🚨 1-0 Calgary Flames. CGY Goal: Martin Pospisil (4). Assists: I. Solovyov (1), R. Lomberg (6). Time: 11:47.
Pospisil scores on a weird one. A shot deflects off his shin pad into the net. But he was trying to kick it. Except it didn’t hit his skate. It wasn’t 100% clearly a kick, it was more like a hitch up with his leg. Referees rule it’s a good goal, no distinct kicking motion. In summary: he was a baddie but not enough baddie things happened for it to be a slam dunk baddie thing overall. Good goal.
🚨 2-0 Calgary Flames. CGY Goal: Matt Coronato (15). Assists: K. Bahl (13). Time: 16:42.
Capitals can’t convert on a rush and Coronato waltzes in on a breakaway. He beats Logan Thompson far side to the top corner. Nasty snipe.
At intermission: The Capitals are losing 2-0. Calgary outshot the Caps 15 to 5 in the first period. 💩 The Capitals didn’t have a shot in the last 14 minutes of the period.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Dylan Strome sprung on a partial breakaway but Coronato gets his stick on it.
Matt Coronato to the bench for slashing Pierre-Luc Dubois at 1:11. The Capitals are 5 of their last 8 on the power play.
Connor McMichael (gets some help) and scores himself into the net.
Capitals back to the power play after Kevin Rooney hooks Andrew Mangiapane at 8:42.
Alex Ovechkin has 10 individual shot attempts 36:19 into the game, but nothing to show for it yet. The ice has been tilted majorly in favor of the Caps.
Vladar makes a sensational save on Connor McMichael down the right wing. A Flames player slashes McMichael’s stick out of his hands. And now we’re having a huge commotion behind the net with Tom Wilson throwing gloves punches.
Connor McMichael (slashing), Tom Wilson (roughing), and Brayden Pachal (slashing) all end up in the box after that melee. Flames get a power play. Spencer Carbery is furious at the bench.
At intermission: The Capitals are still losing 2-0, but they dominated in the second period. Shots are now tied 17 to 17. The Capitals out-attempted the Flames at five-on-five 27 to 5 in the period. Holy schnikes.
Connor McMichael tells @RealSmokinAl during the second intermission that the Capitals were "too cute" with their controlled entries in the first period and their success in the second was just dumping and chasing.
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) February 26, 2025
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
On the line: Logan Thompson hasn’t lost a game in regulation in his last 10 games (8-0-2).
Jonathan Huberdeau to the box for slashing Alex Ovechkin in the hands at 4:32.
🚨 2-1 Calgary Flames. WSH PPG: Alex Ovechkin (30). Assists: J. Carlson (35), D. Strome (41). Time: 4:52.
Alex Ovechkin scores career goal no. 883 on the power play. He took a short bunt pass from Carlson and quickly sent a one-timer into the net from almost no angle.
Matt Roy to the box for slashing Matt Coronato at 6:21.
🚨 3-1 Calgary Flames. CGY Goal: Jonathan Huberdeau (22). Assists: N. Kadri (23). Time: 15:32.
Huberdeau scores down low, giving the Flames some badly needed breathing room.
Capitals lose 3-1. Calgary outshoots the Capitals 25 to 24, but Washington out-attempts them at five-on-five handily, 57 to 43. A rare regulation loss for the Capitals. Just didn’t have it tonight. Their first regulation loss at home since November 23.
Flames beat Caps 3-1, but Ovi scored, so, y’know, it’s fine, nbd
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