The Washington Capitals defeated the Edmonton Oilers at home last night 7-4. It was the goalsplosion we had all longed for, but, of course, Informed Me couldn’t help but notice the Caps process was bad. To say I’m worried about how tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens is going to go is an understatement.
Hear me out. As a high school athlete, I remember how my team would have an easy night against a bad team, when we didn’t play our best, and then we’d have some unfounded confidence. A few nights later, we’d play someone who had their s*** together, and we would get demolished. I hope that’s not what’s in store tonight.
Update: THAT WAS NOT IN STORE TONIGHT!
Alex Ovechkin has scored in four of the last five games with some un-Ovechkin-like tallies. It speaks to his brilliance as a player where, one part of him can fade, yet he’s so smart — and really this is not focused on enough, just how smart of a player and person he is — he just finds a way. His consistency and his ingeniousness are the two things I’ll truly remember about him when he retires. I don’t think I’ll ever cover another player that is quite like this.
Dylan McIlrath will play in his second game of the season. No Nic Dowd. Could we see a Big Mac/Arber Xhekaj fight? Feels likely. Charles “The Outlaw” “Chchch” Lindgren will get the start against Sam Montembault, one of the greatest names in hockey.
Excited? Puck drop for tonight’s game is shortly after 7:00 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network. See you in the comments.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Montreal Canadiens
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Ovechkin-Strome-Protas
Juraj Slafkovský high-sticks Aliaksei Protas in the neutral zone.
Ovechkin scores career goal no. 905 off a Dylan Strome faceoff win. He beat Montembeault far side with a one-timer.
1-0 Washington Capitals
PPG: Alex Ovechkin (8). Assists: D. Strome (13). Time: 1:00
Ovechkin just broke the NHL record for most goals on a goaltender.
Mike Matheson to the box for tripping Ethen Frank at 6:27. Capitals back to the power play. This is a great start.
Justin Sourdif to the box for hooking Ivan Demidov at 9:03. He’s got not-great penalties in consecutive nights.
Capitals kill the penalty.
Delayed penalty on the Capitals. Montreal putting a ton of pressure on Lindgren with Montembeault pulled for an extra attacker. Held the puck for about a minute before the Capitals could touch the puck.
Jakob Chychrun to the box for high-sticking Zack Bolduc at 14:28.
Gallagher scores off a Lindgren rebound, but it took a goal review. He barely tapped it over the goal line. Toronto called for the officials to review. And after doing so, they ruled it did so.
1-1 tie
PPG: Brendan Gallagher (1). Assists: N. Dobson (12), I. Demidov (11). Time: 15:47
Look at this mess in front of Charlie’s crease.
Ethen Frank to the box for slashing Mike Matheson at 17:11.
Josh Anderson is cross-checking Alex Ovechkin in front of the net. Ovechkin gives him back a slash. Anderson gives him another cross-check. Now there’s a huge melee behind the Habs net. Anderson is probably going to have to answer for this. That’s not how you treat one of the greatest players in NHL history.
Officially, Josh Anderson to the box for cross-checking and Ovi to the box for slashing at 19:47. The two teams will play four-on-four.
John Carlson high-sticked at the end of the period by Mike Matheson at 20:00.
At intermission: We’re tied 1-1. The Habs are outshooting the Capitals 12 to 6.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Capitals have a 4-on-3 power play for 1:49 to start the period.
On the five-on-four power play, Ethen Frank beats Montembeault with a snap shot.
2-1 Washington Capitals
PPG: Ethen Frank (1). Assists: A. Ovechkin (10), D. Strome (14). Time: 2:00
Frank beats Montembeault far side and he’s getting the hook.
3-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Ethen Frank (2). Assists: A. Protas (7), H. Lapierre (3). Time: 3:38
Jakub Dobes replaces Montembeault, who’s lost 3 of his last 4 coming into tonight.
Frank nearly tucks it under Dobes on a breakaway. That would have been his first NHL hat trick.
Matheson with a cross-ice pass to Veleno, who sends a far side shot past Lindgren. Beautiful beautiful play.
3-2 Washington Capitals
Goal: Joe Veleno (1). Assists: M. Matheson (8), B. Gallagher (8). Time: 7:53
Veleno takes a John Carlson shot off the leg and falls hard to the ice — like a big Sequoia. He pops right back up though and continued his shift.
Chychrun’s slap shot from the top of the left circle beats Dobes. According to Monumental, it was going 96.2 MPH.
4-2 Washington Capitals
Goal: Jakob Chychrun (5). Assists: J. Carlson (14). Time: 14:26
Montreal answers on a delayed penalty call 38 seconds later.
4-3 Washington Capitals
Goal: Nick Suzuki (5). Assists: A. Carrier (6), Z. Bolduc (3). Time: 15:08
Rasmus Sandin misses the net on a breakaway. He shot the puck through Dobes though. Close.
Sonny Milano goes backhand-forehand on a rush down the right wing and beats Dobes. Great speed and skill there. Alexandre Carrier lose his balance as Milano turned on the jets giving him a lane to the net.
5-3 Washington Capitals
Goal: Sonny Milano (2). Assists: E. Frank (4), R. Sandin (5). Time: 17:25
At intermission: Caps lead 5-3. The Habs are outshooting the Capitals 20 to 19. What an unbelievable period of hockey. They did it just for me on my birthday. Great hockey – both teams. Fun fun fun.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Brendan Gallagher with a great take to the net, his a piece of the post with his net drive.
The Caps’ third line is looking great and creating chances again.
Matheson scores with a shot from the point. Looks like blown coverage by somebody, Milano was hustling over to him so my first inclination is him. Lindgren needs to have that one.
5-4 Washington Capitals
Goal: Mike Matheson (4). Assists: C. Caufield (8), L. Hutson (15). Time: 5:37
Huge hit by Ryan Leonard along the corner boards.
Sourdif clears a puck from the crease looking like a mites-on-ice goalie.
Strome -> Ovechkin on a two-on one.
6-4 Washington Capitals
Goal: Alex Ovechkin (9). Assists: D. Strome (15). Time: 16:03
Alex Ovechkin just passed Joe Sakic for 10th on the NHL’s all-time points list.
Oh my, Ovi just completed his 33rd career hat trick. Unbelievable.
7-4 Washington Capitals
ENG: Alex Ovechkin (10). Assists: J. Carlson (15). Time: 17:56
Four-point night for Frank. Milano hits the far side. That’s his second of the night.
8-4 Washington Capitals
Goal: Sonny Milano (3). Assists: E. Frank (5), H. Lapierre (4). Time: 18:34
Leonard and Anderson to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct at 19:25.
Capitals win 8-4. They scored 15 games in this back-to-back.
Another high-scoring victory for the officially hot Caps: Capitals beat Canadiens 8-4
Was worried the Caps would stink up the joint. Instead, they put on a clinic. Becoming cautiously optimistic.
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