Tonight, at puck drop, history will be made as Alex Ovechkin will have officially played in the 1,500th game of his decorated NHL career, becoming only the 24th player ever in league history to reach the mark.
The Capitals captain enters the game on the verge of another jaw-dropping milestone as well. After scoring against the Columbus Blue Jackets last night, Ovechkin has 899 goals and just needs one more to become the first player in NHL history to reach 900.
Lineup wise, Pierre-Luc Dubois is back after missing the last five games due to injury while Ethen Frank was returned to AHL Hershey earlier in the day. Dylan McIlrath will make his season debut. Charlie Lindgren will receive his third start of the season and oppose Linus Ullmark. Declan Chisholm is the “healthy scratch.”
The Senators will be without captain Brady Tkachuk who had right thumb surgery recently. Though the forward was on the ice with the team during practice this morning.
Puck drop for Caps-Senators is shortly after 7:00 pm on Monumental Sports Network with the Washington Wizards being televised on main. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin will have the call on MNST.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Ottawa Senators
New third jersey merch
New Capitals third jersey merch dropped online including hats, hoodies, and shirts
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Alex Ovechkin gets the start with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Prtoas and defensemen Martin Fehervary and John Carlson.
And that makes it official: Congratulations, Ovi!
Alex Ovechkin becomes 24th player in NHL history to play in 1,500 career games
Matt Roy takes a dump in directly to the face from David Perron. He’s leaking badly from the nose as he goes down the tunnel to the locker room.
NOT A GREAT START PALS.
1-0 Ottawa Senators
Goal: Dylan Cozens (5). Assists: A. Zub (4), D. Perron (2). Time: 1:58
Ryan Leonard gets held by Nikolas Matinpalo at 3:05. Capitals get their first power play of the evening.
Ovechkin had a wide open net short side but he ran out of room.
Dylan Strome is being helped off the ice due to injury. He’s not putting any weight on his left leg.
Tim Stützle is stopped by Charlie Lindgren on a shorthanded breakaway. Slow start for the Caps.
Capitals have no shots through the first six minutes of the game.
Tom Wilson to the box for tripping Dylan Cozens at 7:42.
Matt Roy is back.
Dylan Strome is back with 8:39 remaining in the first period.
Ridly Greig gets destroyed by Tom Wilson along the end boards. Close to interference by Wilson but love it anyway. Caps need a wake up call.
Capitals and Senators are scrumming along the sideboards. Kurtis MacDermid and PLD to the box for roughing at 16:29.
Meanwhile up in Hershey!
Andrew Cristall scores first professional goal with Hershey Bears
At intermission: The Senators lead 1-0. The Senators are outshooting the Capitals 8 to 3. Yes, the Caps only managed three shots. But — things are more even than they seem. The Capitals lead in 5v5 shot attempts 14 to 13.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Strome is out for the rest of the game.
Dylan Strome leaves Ottawa Senators game in first period with lower-body injury
Shane Pinto crashes into Charlie Lindgren as he comes in on a semi-breakaway. The puck crossed the goal line as Jakob Chychrun shoves Pinto into Lindgren.
Referees rule that the puck crossed the goal line before the net was pushed off the moorings. It’s a goal. Charlie Lindgren is angry and raising his hands like, “How could I have even stopped that?”
2-0 Ottawa Senators
Goal: Shane Pinto (8). Unassisted. Time: 3:27
Capitals call timeout to review multiple replays to see if they want to challenge.
Capitals challenge Pinto’s goal.
Chychrun is ruled to hit Pinto into Lindgren so it’s a good goal. The Capitals now have a bench minor at 3:27. Lindgren is at the blue line yelling at Kelly Sutherland.
3-0 Ottawa Senators
PPG: Dylan Cozens (6). Assists: D. Batherson (5), T. Stützle (4). Time: 4:27
4-0 Ottawa Senators
Goal: Nick Cousins (1). Unassisted. Time: 6:21
That’s three goals in in less than 3 minutes for the Senators.
Duhaime and Cousins to the box for minors at 11:20. It’ll be four-on-four hockey.
Shane Pinto to the box for hooking Matt Roy at 12:29. Short four-on-three power play for the Caps before going to a five-on-four.
Declan Chisholm has been centering the first line.
LINUS ULLMARK WANTS A PIECE OF CHARLIE LINDGREN AS LINDGREN ENTERS A SCRUM NEAR THE NET. Omg we were so close to a goalie fight.
Charlie Lindgren and Linus Ullmark almost get into goalie fight during Capitals-Senators game
Senators get a five-on-four power play after that mess.
At intermission: The Senators lead 4-0. They’re outshooting the Capitals 19 to 6.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped. Senators have a power play to start the period.
5-0 Ottawa Senators
PPG: Drake Batherson (1). Assists: D. Cozens (3), C. Giroux (5). Time: 0:55
If you love yourself, you’re turning this game off.
TVR from the goal line? Sure why not.
5-1 Ottawa Senators
Goal: Trevor van Riemsdyk (1). Assists: R. Leonard (2), N. Dowd (2). Time: 5:04
Touchdown, Ottawa.
6-1 Ottawa Senators
PPG: Thomas Chabot (2). Assists: C. Giroux (6), D. Perron (3). Time: 9:47
And the extra point is good!
7-1 Ottawa Senators
Goal: Drake Batherson (2). Assists: J. Sanderson (5), A. Zub (5). Time: 14:22
It sure is.
Capitals lose 7-1. Holy what did I just watch. The Senators outshot the Capitals 32 to 13. BURN THE TAPE.
Beat up, blown out, and broken down: Senators beat Capitals 7-1
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