Game information/links
Game preview
The Washington Capitals (35-27-9, 79 points) are in The Gateway City tonight for a date against the St. Louis Blues (28-30-11, 67 points). The Capitals, who have standings points in four of their last five, will look to continue their muddy, shutdown hockey against a surging Blues team that is 7-1-2 in their last 10.
While the Capitals have been collecting points lately, their offense has been mostly non-existent, notching more than 2 goals just twice in their last 10 games and requiring near-perfect goaltending to win or earn standings points.
Tonight, Spencer Carbery will turn back to Logan Thompson, who, including tonight, has started in five straight games.
Ivan Miroshnichenko will get in his first game since being called up to the Capitals on March 6 with Ethen Frank out with a lower-body injury. Miro has been a healthy-scratch in eight straight games. He’s set to skate on the fourth line with Brandon Duhaime and Hendrix Lapierre.
Alex Ovechkin is also coming off a another major milestone after scoring his 1,000th career goal, regular season and playoffs combined.
The Blues have been getting good performances from players up and down the lineup as of late. Forward Jimmy Snuggerud was recently named the NHL’s “Third Star of the Week” for the week ending March 15, 2026, following a four-game multi-point streak. Pavel Buchnevich has recorded 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) over his last 14 games, while Robert Thomas has points in 9 of 10 March games (5g, 8a, 13 pts). Between the twine, Jordan Binnington has won 3 of his last 4 starts.
Puck drop for tonight’s game is at 8 pm ET on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call.
New Capitals cherry blossom hats
I copped one so you should, too! Capitals’ ’47 Brand cherry blossom hats were released featuring the Screaming Eagle logo. One is black while the other is an asphalt rope hat. Check out more links in our promotion post earlier today.
Lines
Washington Capitals
St. Louis Blues
Goalie matchup
Tunnel Shenanigans
1st period
Puck is dropped. McMichael-Sourdif-Leonard and Chychrun-TVR get the start. McMichael is seen chatting up with Jordan Kyrou during the opening faceoff.
Capitals and Blues’ first shots were both dangerous. Colton Parayko with a huge point shot, then Dylan Strome wide open in the slot. Rebounds were available but both teams couldn’t pot a goal.
Ivan Miroshnichenko rings one off the post.
Capitals going to their first power play as Lindstein hooks Dubois.
Power play
Theo Lindstein hooking penalty (2 mins) at 7:46
Ovechkin had one big shot on net, but Hofer was equal to the task.
One aside: Every time I see our projected fourth line winger from the preseason out with the second unit power play just aimlessly standing in front of the net, I just wonder what’s going on behind the scenes where the coaches think this is the best PP lineup they can ice. Miro got no power play time there by the way. What are we doing here?
One other aside: Hutson wheeled across the blue line and nearly scored with a great shot from the right circle as the power play expired. He had a shift earlier in the period where he tried to be creative and nearly got caught by the Blues — some of his rookie mistakes are showing as he tries to do too much one-on-one — but boy is it great he can make these mistakes now in a lost season. He is going to be such an incredible player.
Capitals have six of the first seven shots of the game, 13 minutes in.
Justin Holl, not the most swift of foot, gets hauled down by Chychrun on a bit of a lazy play there.
Penalty kill
Jakob Chychrun tripping penalty (2 mins) at 13:45
Capitals kill the penalty.
Neighbours knocks Wilson off balance with his stick and into the boards. That’s a penalty. Buchnevich exchanging angry shoves with Fehervary.
Power play
Jake Neighbours slashing penalty (2 mins) at 19:12
At intermission: The game is tied 0-0. The Caps outshot the Blues 8-4. They for sure had more of the better chances in the period. The Capitals will start the second period with 1:12 five-on-four power play.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Ryan Leonard and Tom Wilson with a 2-on-1 right off the draw. Wilson’s shot goes off the chin of Hofer’s mask, 7 seconds in. Play is stopped so he can throw his bucket back on.
Hofer is skating over to the bench and grabbing a backup mask. He has a mark and his right cheek is a bit swollen. Ouch.
One-timer. Score. Snuggerud. After some great passing, he beats Thompson short side.
1-0 St. Louis Blues
Goal: Jimmy Snuggerud (16). Assists: L. Mailloux (6), P. Broberg (21). Time: 2:39
Ryan Leonard fights Otto Stenberg at 7:38 after taking a high hit from the Blues defensemen. The referee could be seen telling Leonard it was shoulder-to-shoulder, but Leno got an elbow right to the face, too.
Parayko gets to a rebound and puts it on net via his backhand. Thompson makes the save. The two Team Canada teammates then could be seen talking afterward.
Tom Wilson gets a double-minor for roughing, Snuggerud and Thomas get minors after a melee after a whistle at 12:04. Play will remain at five-on-five.
McMichael slashes Holl in the leg along the sideboards. That’s a penalty.
Penalty kill
Connor McMichael slashing penalty (2 mins) at 14:34
Caps kill the penalty.
At intermission: Blues lead the Capitals 1-0. Shots on goal are tied 13-13.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Joe Beninati is going through the out-of-town scoreboard talking about how the Capitals really need a win tonight to make up ground in the playoff race. I love his optimism.
Snuggerrud and Broberg dominating in the offensive zone with about 3 or 4 different big chances. Logan Thompson with some huge saves.
I lol’d
Robert Thomas interferes with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Dubois hauls him down. Thomas is injured on the play and PLD is headed to the box.
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