The Washington Capitals and 20,000 of their friends hid from the rain on Sunday evening to host the Seattle Kraken.
Kaapo Kakko, a finely named player, opened goal-scoring for the Kraken, a cleanup on Logan Thompson‘s rebound. Jordan Kyrou scored his first as a Cap off a brilliant pass from Cole Hutson. Alex Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season against the 930th victim of his career, but Jordan Eberle tied the game at 2-2 with a stuff late in the period.
Frederick Gaudreau authored the only goal of the second period, a gimme allowed by Dylan McIlrath‘s turnover.
Less than a minute into the third period, Boone Jenner scored thanks to a defensive turnover – whole lotta that going around. Jared McCann used his legs to get the lead with just five minutes left in regulation. Brian Winterton punished the Caps’ desperation with a breakaway goal.
Caps lose 5-3.
- It’s early in the season; I don’t want to be overly confident and say a team is outright bad, with the exception of the Philadelphia Flyers, who are outright bad. They’re rancid. Toss ’em in the trash. Double-bag it, lest they leak on the carpet on the way out. The Kraken, meanwhile? If they’re bad too, then the Caps really misplayed this entire game.
- Welcome to the scoreboard, Jordan Kyrou. The pass he received from Cole Hutson gives me exactly the same level of excitement about both players. Though there have been some sub-optimal line performances so far, it’s clear that there’s chemistry available.
- Oh you poor babies. You had to wait four and a half games before you got to see an Alex Ovechkin goal. How did you ever survive? Children, come summertime you will have to wait infinity to see another Ovi goal.
- Joey Daccord becomes the 930th goalie on Ovechkin’s list. Have you seen the list lately? It’s new and improved for 2026-27.
- Getting the primary assist on the goal was Ilya Protas. Getting the fake assist was the Blaster to his Master, Aliaksei Protas.
- I love Boone Jenner. I think I always have; I just couldn’t admit it until he wore a Caps jersey. It’s a real enemies-to-lovers plot except neither either of those things. Boone scored a big tying goal in the third with simple, competent forechecking. Missed that over the last nine or so months.
- Something you, me, and Spencer Carbery already know: Dylan McIlrath isn’t up to the task. McIlrath chased his way to an interference in the first, gave up a brutal goal in the second, and got gravity-gunned to the bench in the third period. Final ice time: 5:05. Even if Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin were 100 percent ready to go by Tuesday, I’m not confident about Washington’s defensive depth.
- I don’t think Logan Thompson is going to look back fondly on this game. He hadn’t given up five goals in a game since April.
- Ryan Leonard drew a penalty exactly one minute into the game. He’s still got it.
The first line isn't the only one with two pros on it #joebsuitofthenight
— Good Skeet Pete (@peterhassett.net) 2026-10-11T21:05:27.805Z
That was a winnable game squandered through defensive mistakes.
Please join me in wishing Chris Cerullo a very happy birthday. Chris does it all – and he does it with disproportionate humility. I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s the world’s most popular Caps writer, but he’s got the ego of a sandwich artist. Just here to feed you your hockey nourishment, in numbers or news or prospects or anything else. He’s the best, and I love him.
Rematch against Carolina on Tuesday.
