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Game preview
After losing to the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Saturday, the Washington Capitals’ playoff hopes took another massive hit, falling to 10.6 percent. Now, coming into tonight’s matchup against the Calgary Flames, the Capitals are seven points behind the Bruins for the second wild card spot in the East and trail the New York Islanders by eight for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Neither of the Capitals’ two trade deadline acquisitions — defenseman Timothy Liljegren and centerman David Kampf (visa issues) — will play tonight. Nor will Ivan Miroshnichenko, who was called up last week, but has yet to play a game yet on this current recall. Spencer Carbery is planning on going with the same lineup from Saturday’s loss.
While Capitals’ games are becoming less relevant, there remain tons of interesting stories surrounding the team as it continues to move forward and look back in the rearview.
- Chris Patrick on the direction of the Capitals after trade deadline: ‘At some point, you need to pass the torch a little bit’
- Alex Ovechkin says retirement decision will be based on ‘how my body gonna feel’: ‘I’m 40, and it’s hard to keep up with young guys’
- Cole Hutson could join the Capitals as soon as this week if Boston University is eliminated from Hockey East tournament
- Ivan Miroshnichenko’s role down the stretch with Capitals still ‘to be determined’
- Nic Dowd leaves Capitals with ‘nothing but gratitude,’ hopes his supporters in DC ‘will remain fans’
- John Carlson practices for first time in an Anaheim Ducks uniform: ‘Yesterday was a little crazy. This part of it feels a lot more normal.’
Tonight is Mental Health Awareness Night at Capital One Arena.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Calgary Flames
Goaltending matchup
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. McMichael-Dubois-Leonard and Chychrun-TVR get the start.
Driving the net, Hendrix Lapierre gets his stick on a juicy rebound and scores, giving the Capitals the lead early.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Hendrix Lapierre (3). Assists: M. Fehérváry (17), D. Chisholm (6). Time: 2:46
Lapierre now has three goals in three games against Calgary in his career. The Capitals are 24-9-4 when scoring first this season.
Power play
Zayne Parekh interference penalty (2 minutes) at 4:53
As you might have guessed, the Capitals can’t get anything going on the power play. In fact, Calgary had the better chances.
Lappy nearly scores again but the puck was rolling on him.
2-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Tom Wilson (24). Assists: A. Protas (23), D. Strome (34). Time: 9:13
Flames turn it over right to Dylan Strome along the cornerboards but he can’t stuff it home on a wide open chance.
Duhaime can’t finish on a semi-breakaway.
Logan Thompson nearly shoots it into his own net after trying to clear the puck from Farabee. That was CLOSE.
Left wide open in the slot, McMichael shoots it by Cooley easily. What were the Flames doing there? Anyway, that’s a good goal for his contract negotiations.
3-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Connor McMichael (9). Assists: J. Sourdif (15), A. Beauvillier (11). Time: 17:43
The high slot appears to be open to the Capitals all night. This one could be a blowout.
At intermission: The Capitals lead 3-0. Shots are tied 8-8. The Flames look like they mostly don’t care at all.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Flames seem to massively struggling with the basics tonight, leaving guys wide open near the net. Sometimes double and triple-teaming other guys accidentally.
Declan Chisholm nearly shoots the puck into his own net as he tries to reverse the puck out of the zone around the net.
The Capitals are beginning to crumble to finish the second period, they look exhausted. Flames have found their level and the Capitals can’t handle it.
Uh oh. It felt like a matter of time before the Flames scored.
3-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Matvei Gridin (4). Assists: O. Määttä (3), R. Strome (8). Time: 16:08
Power play
Zayne Parekh interference penalty (2 minutes) at 17:32
WHAT. WAS. THAT. Ryan Leonard turnover, they leave Blake Coleman all alone, and he scores shorthanded right off the faceoff on a breakaway.
3-2 Washington Capitals
SHG: Blake Coleman (15). Assists: M. Backlund (23). Time: 17:39
Another shorty given up on the same power play! Jakub Chychrun drops a pass…. Ryan Leonard reloads the opposite way he’s expecting… and it goes right to Farabee. He sends a pass to Sharangovich. And it’s tied. This is pathetic.
3-3 tie
SHG: Yegor Sharangovich (13). Assists: J. Farabee (14). Time: 18:55
The Capitals could have been up a crazy amount after the first 30 minutes. Calgary wasn’t defending the slot. Now it’s 3-3 going into intermission. Just completely embarrassing. Capitals are being booed off the ice.
At intermission: 3-3. Shots are 20-16 Calgary.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped. Leonard, despite his role in giving up the lead, gets the start on the opening faceoff for the third.
Leonard, who appears to have gotten a pep talk in the locker room, is playing some inspired hockey. He’s ripped off by Cooley trying to go high glove.
Leonard another chance but it’s poke-checked away by Cooley as he drives the center lane. Leonard is shown at the bench slamming his stick and yelling, “oh my god” in frustration, if my lip reading is correct.
Capitals have the first 5 shots of the period.
Bahl clips Ovechkin as he turns to the corner to get the puck. Capitals going to the power play. I’m terrified.
Power play
Kevin Bahl high-sticking penalty (2 minutes) at 9:22
A two-goal game for Connor. Blake Coleman turns the puck to McMichael and he fires it home.
4-3 Washington Capitals
PPG: Connor McMichael (10). Unassisted. Time: 10:52
Sourdif’s lucky shot goes off Bahl and in. He had 1 goal in his 11 games coming into the night. That’s 2 goals overall for the Caps in 23 seconds.
5-3 Washington Capitals
Goal: Justin Sourdif (13). Unassisted. Time: 11:15
Cooley pulled for an extra attacker.
Duhaime chips the puck into open space. Ethen Frank speeds to get to it and scores from almost no angle on the empty net.
6-3 Washington Capitals
ENG: Ethen Frank (13). Assists: B. Duhaime (3), H. Lapierre (9). Time: 17:14
Ryan Leonard makes up for his part in the Capitals’ second-period gaffes and scores on a breakaway as everyone is just playing it out to the buzzer.
7-3 Washington Capitals
Goal: Ryan Leonard (12). Assists: J. Sourdif (16). Time: 19:44
Free nuggs.
Capitals win 7-3.
Flooding the Flames with a lot of firepower: Capitals beat Flames 7-3
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