The Washington Capitals have lost four games in a row and now sit tied for dead last in the Eastern Conference. Pierre-Luc Dubois is out for a really long time due to injury, and Alex Ovechkin only has 2 goals in his first 12 games. The vibes aren’t great, folks.
Which is why, they’re being given a gift with the 4-7-2 St. Louis Blues coming to Capital One Arena. A game removed from a seven-game losing streak, the Blues have the second-worst goal differential in the league (-16) and have lost 3 of 5 games on the road this season. The Capitals, after three days off, can right their wobbling ship and feel good — well, at least for one night — with a big win. After this evening, they hit the road for a four-game road trip, which begins Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rasmus Sandin will return to the lineup after missing the Capitals’ last five games. Logan Thompson, who Spencer Carbery really wants to make Team Canada’s Olympic team, will start in net against Jordan Binnington.
Puck drop for tonight’s game is shortly after 7:30 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network. TNT has the game too nationally, I think?
Lines
Washington Capitals
St. Louis Blues
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, and Anthony Beauvillier get the start along with Rasmus Sandin and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
Ovi with a big first shift but can’t score.
Fourth line keeps the puck in the Blues zone for like 2 consecutive minutes drawing a power play.
Great deflection by Tom Wilson off a John Carlson point shot. He’s basically the only guy scoring on the man advantage.
1-0 Washington Capitals
PPG: Tom Wilson (7). Assists: J. Carlson (6), J. Chychrun (5). Time: 9:50
Matt Roy to the box for hooking Jordan Kyrou at 14:23.
Capitals kill the Blues first power play.
Protas was some good chances below the left circle at five-on-five but can’t score.
At intermission: The Capitals lead 1-0 and are outshooting the Blues 12 to 5. They’re also out-attempting them 26 to 14 at five-on-five. Expected goals were 1.64 to 0.63. Though somehow, the Blues had more high-danger chances, 7-4.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Ovi just scored his 900th NHL goal on a rebound. No look on his backhand. The Capitals bench emptied to celebrate.
2-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Alex Ovechkin (3). Assists: J. Chychrun (6). Time: 2:39
Alex Ovechkin becomes first player in NHL history to score 900 goals
Anthony Beauvillier fakes Jordan Binnington out of his skates to quickly put the Capitals up three goals.
3-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Anthony Beauvillier (2). Assists: J. Chychrun (7). Time: 4:33
Jakob Chychrun has an assist on all three goals, his first three-point game of the season.
Colton Parayko dumps Nic Dowd with a big hit, and Brandon Duhaime drops the gloves with Brayden Schenn.
4-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: John Carlson (3). Assists: R. Leonard (4), M. Fehervary (5). Time: 9:28
Carlson spins and fires a wrister past Binnington to make it four for the Capitals. Joel Hofer is now in net for the Blues.
Dylan Strome to the box for tripping Philip Broberg at 10:28.
Pius Suter cuts the Blues’ power play short by taking a holding penalty on Aliaksei Protas at 12:14.
Wilson now cuts the Capitals’ power play short by cross-checking Broberg at 13:50.
Capitals kill off the Blues power play.
5-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Anthony Beauvillier (3). Assists: P. Suter (4), C. Fowler (5). Time: 16:20
Beauvillier absolutely snipes over the shoulder of Hofer for his second goal of the game.
Blues take a too many men on the ice penalty at 19:08.
At intermission: The Capitals lead 5-0 and are outshooting the Blues 20 to 15. They’re also out-attempting them 39 to 28 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
5-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Alexey Toropchenko (3). Assists: Unassisted. Time: 0:37
Alexey Toropchenko strips Hendrix Lapierre and scores shorthanded to put the Blues on the board.
Blues kill off the rest of the Capitals’ power play.
Hofer robs Carlson on a 3-on-1 chance with Ryan Leonard and Sonny Milano.
6-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Tom Wilson (8). Assists: R. Sandin (3), T. van Riemsdyk (1). Time: 9:00
Wilson slams home his second of the game after collecting his own rebound off Hofer.
Leonard hits the post on a rush chance.
Capitals win 6-1. Logan Thompson makes 23 saves, and Tom Wilson and Anthony Beauvillier score two goals apiece.
Caps beat Blues 6-1: Wilson gets two, Ovi gets 900, Binnington gets the hook
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