The Washington Capitals, winners of their last one, are in Sunshine, FL for some hockey and “vitamin D” according to Trevor van Riemsdyk.
Spencer Carbery has somewhat changed up the lines ahead of the matchup, though, it’s unclear if this will jolt the Capitals with offense. Aliaksei Protas is skating with Alex Ovechkin and Justin Sourdif while Dylan Strome hit the ice with Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael.
In net will be two titans of the twine: Logan Thompson and Sergei Bobrovsky. Should be a good one.
Puck drop for today’s game is scheduled for a little after 7 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin will have the call on Monumental Sports Network.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Florida Panthers
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Duhaime-Sourdif-Wilson and Chychrun-Roy get the start. Sourdif gets the go against his former team while Duhaime and Chychrun grew up as friends in Florida. Really nice touch by Spencer Carbery.
Martin Fehervary joins the play and ends up with a semi-breakaway after some poor coverage by the Panthers. He sends a shot off Sergei Bobrovsky’s pads that go right to Tom Wilson, who shoots it into the yawning net.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Tom Wilson (18). Assists: M. Fehérváry (9), D. Strome (22). Time: 3:53
Uh oh. Capitals lose a puck battle in the corner and neither player goes with their man to the net. Panthers’ Anton Lundell ties it 42 seconds later with a layup, 1-1.
1-1 tie
Goal: Anton Lundell (13). Assists: J. Petry (8). Time: 4:35
Anthony Beauvillier to the box for holding Evan Rodrigues at 8:33. Panthers have their first power play.
Wilson stopped by Bobrovsky shorthanded on a semi-breakaway down the left wing.
van Riemsdyk smarting after a shot block on the PK.
Caps kill the penalty.
Panthers go back to the power play after Ethen Frank is questionably called for slashing Niko Mikkola at 11:44.
Connor McMichael foiled on a 2-on-1 attempt shorthanded.
Oh no. What a shot by Reinhart under the bar. In and out in a hurry.
2-1 Florida Panthers
PPG: Sam Reinhart (20). Assists: S. Jones (16), B. Marchand (22). Time: 12:45
Capitals are playing wide open with the Panthers and I’m not sure they have the firepower to do so.
A.J. Greer with a slash on Matt Roy at 16:54. That also doesn’t appear to be a penalty but whatever, Caps go to their first power play of the evening.
Seth Jones takes a double minor for high-sticking Justin Sourdif at 18:04. Caps will have a 5v3 for 50 seconds.
Bobrovsky gets his pad out to stop Strome wide open at the far post. Panthers kill the 5v3.
I swear, the Capitals look like they just scored, but the referee is waiving it off. Bobrovsky literally stopped playing.
Caps rewind and… Tom Wilson scores in the bumper spot. Nice pass by Dylan Strome.
2-2 tie
PPG: Tom Wilson (19). Assists: D. Strome (23), J. Chychrun (15). Time: 19:17
Evan Rodrigues has a shorthanded breakaway, but as the clock hits zero, his slap shot attempt breaks his stick in half.
At intermission: The game is tied 2-2. Shots are tied 10 to 10.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Panthers kill the rest of Jones’ high-sticking penalty, we’re back at 5v5.
Bennett with a really sneaky backhand but Thompson makes the save.
Gustav Forsling trips Tom Wilson at 4:20. Tom going for the hat trick here.
Ryan Leonard to the box for tripping Brad Marchand at 11:48.
Brilliant save by Bobrovsky on Tom Wilson during a two-on-one shorthanded break. Oh man that would have been epic. Tom is flying out there.
Nic Dowd to the box for tripping Evan Rodrigues at 13:5
Nic Dowd might have made a game-saving stick check there on that Evan Rodrigues breakaway. Great hustle to get back after serving his penalty.
Minus the penalties, excellent second period by the Capitals. They tightened things up and outshot Florida 11 to 8.
At intermission: The game remains tied 2-2. Shots are 21 to 18 Caps.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Aliaksei Protas draws a penalty with a great drive to the net, but Dylan Strome says – we don’t need that power play – no thanks.
3-2 Washington Capitals
Goal: Dylan Strome (8). Assists: T. Wilson (18), A. Protas (14). Time: 3:11
Alex Ovechkin whistled for interference on Aaron Ekblad. Carbery and Ovechkin are both making “dive” gestures with their hands.
3-3 tie
PPG: Brad Marchand (22). Assists: S. Bennett (15), S. Jones (17). Time: 6:16
Now Ovechkin dives to draw a penalty on Forsling. lmao. THESE REFS HAVE MAILED IT IN TONIGHT.
Ryan Leonard hauls down Seth Jones at 7:19, negating the rest of the Capitals’ power play. Both teams will play 4v4.
Turnover by Sandin. Reinhart HITS THE POST IN FRONT. My anxiety is rising.
4-3 Florida Panthers
Goal: Aaron Ekblad (2). Assists: S. Reinhart (21), A. Lundell (17). Time: 13:12
Jakob Chychrun actually tripped at the blue line, but the officals have now swallowed their whistles
TVR has his stick slashed out of his hands. Delayed penalty call coming here against Florida.
Eetu Luostarinen to the box for slashing at 17:12. Huge power play here for the Capitals.
Logan Thompson going to the bench for 1:22 remaining. Caps have a 6v4 now.
Sam Reinhart with an insane backhand empty-net goal from the defensive zone. 5-3 Panthers now with 34 seconds remaining.
5-3 Florida Panthers
ENG: Sam Reinhart (21). Unassisted. Time: 19:17
Dang.
Caps lose 5-3. They’re yelling at the officials as they go down the tunnel.
Panthers beat Caps 5-3 in game devised by satan to make us go insane
Comment below. Refresh for live updates during the game. The thread will be closed shortly after the game is completed.
