Tonight, not only do the hockey players have to be tough, but so does our readership. The Capitals are in LA for the first game of their three-game west coast road trip which will see puck drop 3.5 hours later than those at Capital One Arena.
The Capitals will turn to Logan Thompson to start in net, while Nic Dowd will miss his eighth-straight game. The Kings will counter with Darcy Kuemper. Bogdan Trineyev remains with the Caps but won’t make his debut tonight as the Caps will roll with the same lineup.
Puck drop for today’s game is scheduled for a little after 10:30 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network.
It’s #RMNBAfterDark. Let’s get weird.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Los Angeles Kings
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Duhaime-McMichael-Leonard and Chychrun-Roy get the start for the Capitals.
For those who love defensive shutdown hockey, you’re going to love this game. Three minutes in, both teams have just kept it along the walls.
McMichael has a partial breakaway down the right wing. He goes to the backhand, but he sends the puck high and over the net.
Five minutes in, there are no shots on goal.
Aliaksei Protas has the games’ first shot 7:11 into the game. A high slot chance where he shot it right into Kuemper’s chest.
Lenny is Lenny’ing.
Andrei Kuzmenko to the box for tripping Matt Roy at 13:41. Capitals go to their first power play.
Leonard almost scores from the slot.
The Kings play a PK style that leaves does not match up well with the Caps. Seemingly everyone is open.
Tom Wilson again, after a great setup feed from Ryan Leonard. He’s on pace for 49.
1-0 Washington Capitals
PPG: Tom Wilson (16). Assists: R. Leonard (9), A. Ovechkin (14). Time: 14:50
At intermission: The Capitals lead 1-0. The Capitals dominated the second half of the period and are outshooting the Kings 12-3.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Kempe scores on a two-on-one break. From Kopitar.
1-1 tie
Goal: Adrian Kempe (9). Assists: A. Kopitar (9), T. Moore (7). Time: 5:28
Ryan Leonard to the box for slashing Phillip Danault at 6:00.
Fehervary nearly scores on a 3-on-1 shorthanded break for the Caps, but misses the net on his shot.
Lots of chances in front of the net for the Kings, but they can’t connect.
Sourdif is hobbling after falling over and being crashed into by a Kings player while bellydown in the offensive zone. Remained for the rest of his shift, but was struggling to skate at full strength.
Dylan Strome passes it directly to Kevin Fiala at the offensive blue line and the Kings nearly score on a two-on-one again.
Quinton Byfield to the box for slashing Connor McMichael at 10:25. Caps back to the power play.
McMichael with a huge chance from the slot as time expires on the PP.
Kings have killed 30 of the last 32 power plays they’ve faced.
Ethen Frank takes a huge hit from Joel Edmundsson. Totally clean, but for sure a rough run.
Brandon Duhaime i fighting Edmundsson. He absorbed a big uppercut at the end. Edmundsson pats him on the arm while laying on the ice. Caps really happy with Duhaime at the bench as he goes down the runway to the locker room.
Both players get fighting majors. Duhaime gets an additional roughing penalty at 19:05. Kings to the power play.
Big save by Logan Thompson in the final second after a screened point shot from Clarke.
At intermission: The game is tied 1-1. The Capitals lead in shots 20-17.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Caps kill the penalty.
Ovechkin and McMichael on a two-on-one. Ovi passes to McMichael and he hits the trailer BEAUVI. Caps take the lead!
2-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Anthony Beauvillier (6). Assists: C. McMichael (11), A. Ovechkin (15). Time: 1:18
Kuemper stops Ethen Frank on a semi-breakaway.
On his next shift, Frank gets boarded. No call.
Trevor Moore furious after his stick shatters on his shot. He thought he got slashed.
Kings pull Kuemper with 2:27 for an extra attacker.
McMichael shoots the puck at the empty net and sends it off the rink. How in the world did that happen.
Aliaksei Protas scores the empty-netter!
3-1 Washington Capitals
ENG: Aliaksei Protas (8). Assists: M. Fehérváry (7), T. Wilson (15). Time: 18:18
Ovi nearly scores another empty-netter, but Kings get back just in time.
Capitals win 3-1.
Caps beat Kings 3-1, but you’ve still got work in the morning
Entire Capitals team shaking the hand of Anze Kopitar at the end of the game. Kopitar is retiring at the end of the year.
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