The Washington Capitals defeated the Montreal Canadiens 8-4 on Thursday, and they’re starting to make me a believer again. Alex Ovechkin had a hat trick and is skating much better than the start of the season. The team is getting secondary scoring – what art thou is this? – and lo-and-behold, their defense and goaltending are so good, this is apparently an ingredient to win hockey games and win bigly.
I loathe feeling like a believer because you know what happens next. Excitement, expectations, and let down. But baby, my brain is ready to be hurt again!
Tonight, the Capitals take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Logan Thompson will return to the net opposite of Jonas Johansson, while Nic Dowd will miss another game due to an upper-body injury. On the backend, the Lightning are aching as they’re going to be without both Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh.
TVR is playing in his 700th career game.
Also, it’s Hockey Fights Cancer night.
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
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Ovechkin-Strome-Beauvillier and Sandin-TVR get the start.
Sourdif finds a Tom Wilson rebound and shoots it past Johansson as he’s falling down to the ice. NICE! Like this a lot.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Justin Sourdif (3). Assists: T. Wilson (10), M. Fehérváry (6). Time: 1:06
J.J. Moser slashes Dylan Strome at 2:39, giving the Capitals their first power play.
UH OH.
1-1 tie
Shorty: Brandon Hagel (8). Assists: A. Cirelli (6), E. Cernak (4). Time: 2:53
Ethen Frank to the box for high-sticking after striking Emil Lilleberg in the face. We’ll play four-by-four and then Tampa will get a short power play.
Kucherov’s huge one-timer from the right circle goes past Thompson and dings hard off the post. The ricochet goes right to Bjorkstrand who shoots it into the yawning net.
2-1 Tampa Bay Lightning
PPG: Oliver Bjorkstrand (2). Assists: N. Kucherov (11), D. Raddysh (7). Time: 5:21
Nikita Kucherov off the ice for hooking Justin Sourdif at 7:06.
Nice puck movement from the Caps second power play unit.
Back at five-on-five, Kucherov bumps the puck to Hagel who just slams the puck past Thompson with a huge slap shot.
3-1 Tampa Bay Lightning
Goal: Brandon Hagel (9). Assists: N. Kucherov (12), J. Moser (6). Time: 11:36
Logan Thompson has given up three goals on five shots, but he remains in the net.
Kucherov scores casually on a breakaway.
4-1 Tampa Bay Lightning
Goal: Nikita Kucherov (10). Assists: B. Hagel (9), C. D'Astous (5). Time: 18:19
Charlie Thompson replaces Logan Thompson with 1:41 remaining in the period after the Caps starter surrendered four goals on six shots. Yikes.
Some squabbling at the final buzzer as everyone hugs a man at the horn.
At intermission: The Capitals are getting sonned 4-1. The Capitals are actually outshooting the Lightning 9 to 6 and out-attempting the Lightning 18 to 9 at five-on-five.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Tom Wilson with a big hit on Nikita Kucherov and he’s ailing. Both teams are mucking it up near the Capitals bench. Kucherov is bent over at the bench now in a lot of pain.
Somehow Bradon Hagel gets the only penalty, roughing, at 1:12. Caps go back to the power play.
Kucherov down the runway to the locker room.
Light your candles and turn on Christian music, Jakob Chychrun has a goal!
4-2 Tampa Bay Lightning
Goal: Jakob Cychrun (6). Unassisted. Time: 05:26
Dominic James gets boarded by Rasmus Sandin as he turns into the boards. Huge hit, but definitely not a penalty as he put himself in harm’s way there. Caps and Lightning are starting to get real chippy.
Tom Wilson beats up 6-foot-9 Curtis Douglas in a fight.
Douglas gets an instigator and a 10 min misconduct. Caps to the power play.
At intermission: Capitals trail the Lightning 4-2. Shots are 20 to 10 Caps. I don’t know, this one doesn’t feel over at all. Should be an electrifying third.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped. Tom Wilson skates over to the penalty box and he looks angry. He slammed the penalty box glass as it looked like Erik Cernak said hello before puck drop.
Rasmus Sandin to the box for hooking Yanni Gourde on a chance, 58 seconds in. Tampa back to the power play.
Ethen Frank did everything there, skated the puck out of the defensive zone, gained entry into the O-zone, dished to a teammate, got the puck back and RIPPED IT HOME. Caps within one!
4-3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Goal: Ethen Frank (3). Assists: S. Milano (1), J. Chychrun (13). Time: 05:24
Anthony Cirelli to the box for tripping Ryan Leonard at 6:30.
Emil Lilleberg to the box for slashing Tom Wilson at 7:04 Caps have a five-on-three for 1:21.
Time out Washington.
Hagel wipes out, Chychrun walks all the way to the net and Johansson stops him omg.
Ovechkin rips one off the post off a Strome faceoff win. C’monnnnnn.
Jakob Chychrun is off for interfering with Jake Guentzel at 8:25, negating the rest of the 5v4 power play.
John Carlson blows his coverage and it looks like this one might be over.
5-3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Goal: Anthony Cirelli (8). Assists: S. Milano (1), J. Chychrun (13). Time: 15:51
Charlie Lindgren is out for an extra attacker with under 3 mins to go.
Caps lose 5-3. Felt like the comeback was on, but they couldn’t close the deal.
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