The Washington Capitals’ three-game homestand ends tonight at Capital One Arena, where our heroes in red will take on the Florida Panthers.
Alex Ovechkin will continue his chase of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record. Coming into today’s game, Ovechkin is currently at 888 career goals — 7 away from the record. Today he will be facing a former friend, Vitek Vanecek, in net who would be a new goalie added to Ovi’s list if he can light the lamp.
Logan Thompson will get the start for the Capitals.
Puck drop for Caps-Panthers is set for 5 pm on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Alan May have the call.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Florida Panthers
Tunnel shenanigans
Ovi Jr. is in the house
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (25). Assists: T. Wilson (28). Time: 03:25.
McMichael dekes Vanecek out of position for an easy breakaway goal. What a pretty pretty play to give the Caps the lead before the game is 4 minutes old.
🚨 1-1 tie. FLA Goal: Sam Bennett (23). Assists: M. Samoskevich (13), G. Forsling (15). Time: 06:35.
Samoskevich finds Bennett at the far post for a layup.
Ovechkin tripped by Mikkola at 7:15. Caps go to their first power play of the game. Could this be the moment for 889?
Nope.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: John Carlson (5). Assists: C. McMichael (29), P. Dubois (43). Time: 12:24.
McMichael finds Carlson for a one-timer, who chunks a shot off a Panthers’ skate and in.
🚨 2-2 tie. FLA Goal: Seth Jones (8). Assists: S. Bennett (24), E. Rodrigues (14). Time: 13:56.
Jones’ shot from the point eludes Thompson, who it appears he never saw it.
🚨 3-2 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Anthony Beauvillier (15). Assists: R. Sandin (23), T. van Riemsdyk (18). Time: 14:56.
Beauvillier, with speed, scores his second as a Capital after a great set up pass by Rasmus Sandin from the defensive zone.
🚨 3-3 tie. FLA Goal: Jonah Gadjovich (4). Assists: S. Bennett (24), E. Rodrigues (14). Time: 15:27.
A bad turnover by Aliaksei Protas behind the net, leads to a wide-open chance for Gadjovich in front of the net.
Sam Bennett off the crossbar with a backhand.
Caps back to the power play after Forsling trips Dubois at 17:31. They haven’t had a PPG in 7 games.
At intermission: A 6-goal, 24-shot period. The game’s tied 3-3. Caps lead 15 to 9 in shots. Five-on-five attempts are tied at 17.
2nd Period
Jakob Chychrun is back.
Puck is dropped AND!!!!
🚨 4-3 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Tom Wilson (31). Assists: M. Roy (21), M. Fehervary (17). Time: 00:07.
Wilson scores on a breakaway right off the opening draw. Why not?
🚨 5-3 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Dylan Strome (31). Assists: A. Ovechkin (23), A. Protas (34). Time: 00:59.
Strome redirects an Alex Ovechkin indirect shot past Vanecek. That’s two goals in 52 seconds in the period’s opening minute.
Timeout Florida.
Panthers draw a power play at 1:27. Chychrun gets minors for roughing and cross-checking. Gadjovich for roughing.
Dylan Strome has his TJ Oshie blades on (he’s falling all over the place)
🚨 6-3 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Andrew Mangiapane (13). Assists: . Ovechkin (24), M. Fehervary (18). Time: 05:57.
Ovechkin to Mangiapane in front of the net for a redirect. The Capitals’ playmaking in this game is incredible.
Florida to the power play after Chychrun gets whistled for tripping at 10:27.
Successful challenge by Spencer Carbery wipes out a potential delay of game penalty by Lars Eller at 15:04.
At intermission: The Capitals lead 6-3. They lead in shots 24 to 22.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
PLD to the box for tripping at 8:19.
Ovechkin nearly s cores on his backhand but Vanecek makes the sprawling save. Chants of Ovi coming from the crowd.
Capitals win 6-3. No Ovi goals but the Caps are 9-1-0 in their last 10.
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