The Washington Capitals are set for the first game of two on their annual Mentors’ Trip against the Chicago Blackhawks.
With many dads and other family members in attendance at the United Center, the Caps will meet a surging Blackhawks team that has won four games in a row. Connor Bedard will be making his long-awaited return after missing the past 12 games due to an upper-body injury.
On the Capitals’ side, Aliaksei Protas will be back in action after missing three games, while Tom Wilson remains out with his injury. Declan Chisholm will also enter the lineup for Dylan McIlrath, and Logan Thompson will start in goal.
The Blackhawks, who are being ravaged by the flu bug, will see Rockford IceHogs goaltender Drew Commesso between the pipes with both of their netminders sick.
Puck drop for today’s game is scheduled for a little after 8 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin will have the call on Monumental Sports Network 2.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Chicago Blackhawks
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Beauvilllier-Dowd-Frank and Fehervary-Carlson get the start.
Declan Chisholm nearly stickhandles his way into a semi-breakaway, but gets hooked and can’t get a good attempt off.
Martin Fehervary winds up as if he’s going to shoot and sends a a perfect indirect pass to Anthony Beauvillier for the deflection goal. Props to Ethen Frank hustling in front of the net to cause some chaos and screen Commesso.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Anthony Beauvillier (9). Assists: M. Fehérváry (12), J. Carlson (24). Time: 4:03
Two shots on goal through the first seven minutes of the game. The Caps scored on their only SOG.
Justin Sourdif to the box at 8:33 for slashing. Blackhawks to their first power play.
Teuvo Teräväinen takes a pass from behind the net, but his shot is stopped by Thompson.
Teräväinen with another chance after a cross-crease pass from Tyler Bertuzzi, but shanks it. Ferharvary then shoots the puck off the rink for a delay of game penalty. 5v3 power play for Chicago for 1:15.
Huge blocker save by Thompson on Bedard.
Scramble in the crease, puck is sitting there, Caps clear it!
Capitals kill the Blackhawks long power play. Great work there.
The Blackhawks have 8 of the first 10 shots on goal 14 minutes in. Caps have just 2 shots on goal in 14 minutes.
The savior on a breakaway, scoring five hole.
2-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Connor McMichael (6). Assists: R. Leonard (17). Time: 15:07
Here’s another look at McMike’s goal.
Ethen Frank in tight, beats Commesso.
3-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Ethen Frank (7). Assists: J. Carlson (25), N. Dowd (9). Time: 18:54
At intermission: The Caps only had six shots in the period, but they scored on three of them.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Ryan Green to the box for hooking Justin Sourdif at 1:14.
Brandon Duhaime to the box at 6:51 for cross-checking Nick Lardis.
Oliver Moore, a Chicago first-rounder, shoots it short-side top corner, fitting the puck into a space with maybe 5 inches available.
3-1 Washington Capitals
PPG: Oliver Moore (5). Assists: M. Grzelcyk (11), N. Lardis (1). Time: 8:48
McMichael appears to chip a loose puck home on the door step, but Sourdif got in there too.
4-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Justin Sourdif (9). Assists: C. McMichael (21), R. Leonard (18). Time: 12:38
Big hit by Soudif on Oliver Moore and everybody is tangling along the sideboards.
Nick Lardis retaliates at 12:54, and the Caps get a power play. These were the impact plays that were missing the first 30 games of the season for Sourdif, but now he’s arrived. He has 10 points (6g, 4a) in his last six games.
At intermission: Shots are 16 to 16 but the difference is the Capitals 25 percent conversion rate. 4-1 Caps going into the third.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Ryan Leonard with some crazy puck-juggling in the offensive zone.
Nic Dowd to the box for tripping Ryan Greene at 4:20.
Caps kill the penalty.
Drew Commesso just became the 187th different goaltender Alex Ovechkin has scored on.
5-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Alex Ovechkin (19). Assists: M. Fehérváry (13). Time: 13:33
Ovi now has goals in three straight. He has 916 career goals.
Caps will end the game on a power play after a trip by Landon Slaggert on Hendrix Lapierre with 1:25 remaining.
Capitals win 5-1. Shots were even 24 to 24.
Caps beat Blackhawks 5-1: Alex Ovechkin adds another name to The List
Comment below. Refresh for live updates during the game. The thread will be closed shortly after the game is completed.
