Live updates: Washington Capitals vs Edmonton Oilers at Capital One Arena

Two of the greatest players in NHL history — well, three, if you count Leon Draisaitl — are set to face of at Capital One Arena on Wednesday night.

Alex Ovechkin will face off against Connor McDavid for the 14th time in his career. In those games, Ovechkin has recorded 15 points (8g, 7a), while McDavid has registered 24 (8g, 16a) of his own. The Capitals have an 8-4-2 record in those meetings. Per Capitals PR, the pair are the only active players — and two of nine in NHL history — to win three Hart Trophies as League MVP. The others are Wayne Gretzky: 9; Gordie Howe: 6; Eddie Shore: 4; Mario Lemieux: 3; Bobby Clarke: 3; Bobby Orr: 3; and Howie Morenz: 3.

The Capitals will be without Nic Dowd, who was a surprise game-time scratch due to an upper-body injury. Logan Thompson will start for the Capitals in net and oppose Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner.

Puck drop for tonight’s game is shortly after 7:00 pm. Kenny Albert and Eddie Olczyk have the call on TNT.

Lines

Washington Capitals

Edmonton Oilers

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

Puck is dropped. Duhaime-McMichael-Leonard and Chychrun-Roy gets the start.

Great first shift by the first line. Held the puck in the Oilers offensive zone for about 40 seconds straight.

Aliaksei Protas with a deflection goal. It’s his sixth of the season and his first since November 1 against the Sabres – a 7-game goalless streak.

Leon Draisaitl nearly scores on a huge shot from the right circle, but great save by Logan Thompson.

Ovechkin with a deflection from the slot past a beleaguered Stuart Skinner. That’s the 904th of his career.

Alex Ovechkin scores 904th NHL goal, beating Oilers’ Stuart Skinner with a deflection

Nurse beats Thompson – that was in and out of the net in a hurry.

Ryan Leonard scores his fourth goal of the season after showing some patience and beating Stuart Skinner short side from the right circle. That’s Leonard’s first goal in 13 games.

Andrew Mangiapane honored in his return game to Washington.

Capitals win the defensive zone draw, but Zach Hyman shreds Rasmus Sandin in a puck battle to gain possession of the biscuit. He finds Nurse who scores again with a huge shot past a ton of traffic.

Tom Wilson to the box for high-sticking Evan Bouchard at 15:19. Oilers going to their first power play.

Aliaksei Protas misses the net bad on a two-on-one shorthanded chance, nearly leading to a Connor McDavid chance the other end.

Ethen Frank blazes down the left wing and gets a good chance on Skinner.

At intermission: 3-2 Capitals. Five-goal period! The Capitals are leading in shots 11 to 9 and 5v5 attempts 17 to 15.

2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

Great first shift by the Oilers, with a chance in front of the net.

Sourdif misses on a chance in front of the net.

A much slower, more defensively cautious period for both teams.

Ryan Leonard scores his second of the night with an unbelievable individual play on Evan Bouchard, big-boy’ing him on his way to the net. Leonard scored four goals in his first 28 games. He has two tonight.

Bad penalty by Justin Sourdif 200 feet away from the Capitals net. He held Jake Walman at 14:11.

At intermission: 4-2 Caps. Caps are outshooting the Oilers 16 to 14. The Oilers are leading in 5v5 shot attempts, 35 to 29.

3rd Period

Puck is dropped.

Mangiapane, from behind the net, sends a backhand pass to Tomasek, driving the net. He goes forehand-backhand and beats Thompson. Ethen Frank was trailing the play.

Connor McDavid sheds Sourdif as he goes in on a contested breakaway but Thompson makes the save.

Anthony Beauvillier scores on a two-on-one with Dylan Strome. Fourth two-goal lead for the Capitals tonight.

John Carlson hooks McDavid down the ice and he’s to the box for hooking at 6:53.

Draisaitl from his office on the right circle. Oilers cut the Capitals’ lead to one again for a fourth time.

Ekholm with a huge slash on Dylan Strome as he skates the puck out of the defensive zone, he was angry about being decked in front of the net, but they catch the retaliatory penalty. Capitals to their first power play at 11:39.

Capitals with another poor power play.

Oilers dominating in possession right now, hemming the Capitals in their own zone for minutes at a time.

Skinner off the ice for an extra attacker with around 1:50 remaining.

Wilson blocks Bouchard’s shot and scores another empty-netter on a breakaway. His two goals came 28 seconds apart.

Capitals win 7-4. Ryan Leonard’s first multi-goal game. Most goals the Capitals have scored all year, but don’t get it twisted, this was another uneven performance. Oilers outshot the Capitals 28 to 21.

Ryan Leonard has arrived: Caps beat Oilers 7-4

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