If you’re a le-Nerd for Leonard, tonight is going to be a special night for you. Ryan Leonard is making his NHL debut for the Washington Capitals and this is 100 percent not an April Fool’s joke.
Over the last 24 hours, Leonard signed his entry-level contract with the Capitals, took Ovi on campus with his buds, practiced with the Caps, and now will play against his hometown team in his hometown city for his NHL debut. What an absolutely wonderful moment.
With the Capitals losers of three straight, Charlie Lindgren will get the start tonight against Jeremy Swayman. Alex Ovechkin is four goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s goals record and five away from breaking it. What a world we’re living in.
Puck drop for Caps-Bruins is set for 7:00 pm on Monumental Sports Network. Joe B and Locker have the call.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Boston Bruins
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Leonard get the start with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas.
Through the first 9 minutes, the Capitals have 7 of the first 9 shots on goal.
Dylan McIlrath cross-checks Cole Koepke at 13:21.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH SHG: Nic Dowd (13). Assists: B. Duhaime (11). Time: 13:32.
Who else didn’t have Nic Dowd starting the scoring with a shorty?
Huge hit by Ryan Leonard by at center ice after he gets the puck stolen on a zone entry. Great hustling backcheck here.
David Pastrnak to the box for hooking Rasmus Sandin at 14:51.
🚨 2-0 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: Alex Ovechkin (38). Assists: D. Strome (48), J. Carlson (42). Time: 15:42.
Alex Ovechkin career goal 891 on a layup in front of the net. We’re getting very, very close to history, folks.
At intermission: The Capitals have a 2-0 lead and are leading in shots 11 to 4. Yeesh. The Bruins are not very good anymore.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Bruins showing more life early in the period.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. BOS Goal: Vinni Lettieri (3). Assists: M. Khusnutdinov (6). Time: 06:05.
Ryan Leonard nearly had a chance to score there on a two-on-one but the Bruins broke it up.
Lars Eller to the box for high-sticking Nikita Zadorov at 8:58. Bruins to the power play.
Dowd sprung on a breakaway but Pastrnak hauls him down at 10:27. We’re going to four-on-four before the Caps will get an abbreviated power play.
🥊 Dylan McIlrath vs Jeffrey Viel – They went for over a minute. Old-school bout!
Jakob Chychrun to the box for holding John Beecher at 15:25.
Caps getting a bunch of chances shorthanded, but just can’t score.
🚨 2-2 tie. BOS PPG: David Pastrnak (36). Unassisted. Time: 17:11.
Pastrnak scores on a tap-in in front of the net.
At intermission: I feel like my last comment jinxe the Caps. The game’s tied 2-2. Shots are 18 to 13 Capitals.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Al Koken relayed some spicy quotes from assistant coach Scott Allen, who said the Capitals have nothing going at five-on-five.
🚨 3-2 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Dylan Strome (24). Assists: A. Protas (36), M. Fehérváry (20). Time:10:35.
Strome scores after a point shot ricochets hard off the end boards and back out to him in the crease for a layup. He has goals in 6 of his last 11.
🚨 4-2 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Tom Wilson (32). Unassisted. Time: 14:44.
TOM WITH A CLUNKER OFF A BRUINS PLAYER AND IN.
🚨 4-3 Washington Capitals. BOS Goal: David Pastrnak (37). Assists: M. Geekie (17), P. Zacha (31). Time: 14:44.
Pasta goes bardown to make it a one-goal game.
Martin Fehervary down the tunnel
Bruins pull Swayman with 1:29 remaining. Ovechkin staying on the ice.
Huge save by Lindgren in the final second.
Capitals win 4-3. The losing streak ends at 3 games. The Caps outshot the Bruins 31 to 23.
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