The Washington Capitals were fresh and rested for the Florida Panthers visit to DC. In the final game of their homestand, the Caps played their best game of the stretch – with one glaring exception.
Jack St. Ivany, living his best life, scored his first NHL goal after a turnover by Florida goalie Akira Schmid. Brady Tkachuk scored back-to-back goals – including one during a five-minute power play – to put the Panthers up after 20 minutes.
With a solo effort and sick release, Alex Tuch tied the game up. Pierre-Luc Dubois sent Aliaksei and improbable pass to give the Capitals an even improbabler lead after two periods.
Protas paid back Dubois with an assist on the latter’s goal early in the third period – after yet another defensive breakdown. Lotta that going around these days. The Panthers pulled their goalie and drew within one goal in the final minute but couldn’t catch the Caps.
Caps beat Panthers 4-3!
- The Caps have had more three-day rests than any team in the league. They’ve got one more in the remainder of the season.
- One month ago, Jack St. Ivany was an asterisk on the Winnipeg blue line. In his fifth game as a Capital, he added his first NHL goal to his already-banked four assists. Crunching some quick number over here … yeah, he’s at a point per game. Absolutely not with this nickname, though, and absolutely with his terrible goal song.
- Not nine minutes into the game, Tom Wilson hit Sandis Vilmanis in the numbers. The numbers are printed on the back of the jersey, so the person you’re hitting rarely knows you’re about to do it. Vilmanis’ face bounced off the boards. He was majorly hurt, and Wilson was majorly penalized – ejected, with suspension likely. The Caps surrendered one goal on the Panthers’ five-minute power play.
- Vilmanis did not return. He’s technically still a rookie, and he had just come off a four-point (two goals and two assists) game against Chicago. Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s Chicago, but still. A tough break and a delicate time.
- After the ejection, Brady Tkachuk meanwhile was begging for penalty calls with some of the finest performances I’ve seen since Dion Waiters in 2k15.
- There were protestors in the stands.
- I still don’t know what Connector, the intermission sponsor, does. I can take a guess, and I’m sure I’ll get it in three, but as a company they are ungoogleable. If you know, go into the comments and lie to me about it. I’ll believe in anything.
- Alex Tuch stole a puck at center ice, drove it to the Florida net and release a flawless snap shot. He’s at 11 goals on the season. Good thing everyone likes this guy, as his contract will stretch several years into the post-apocalypse.
- Both Tuch and Ivany’s goals were unassisted. Aliaksei Protas‘ goal, meanwhile, was impeccably assisted. Pierre-Luc Dubois sent a no-look, Stevie Wonderous pass to Protas on the far side of the slot. Protas’ celebration was more in admiration of the pass he received than the goal he scored.
- Alex Ovechkin is racking up scoring chances, but he’s still got just one on the season. He’s climbing the ranks of forwards who have scored noticeably less than expected. The goals will come, and I like him paired with Justin Sourdif.
- Cole Hutson committed two minor penalties in the third period. The second was a retaliatory cross-check on Sam Reinhardt.
- The Monumental app doesn’t tell you when your stream has fallen far behind the live game. I missed the first few minutes of the third period. I’m so cranky about this. My games without an app problem counter remains at zero.
- Cap One has pigeons.
finally back #joebsuitofthenight
— Good Skeet Pete (@peterhassett.net) 2026-11-07T17:28:23.710Z
Great game from the Capitals. Had Wilson not leveled that bad hit, it would have been a rousing success. When the Caps fly to Ottawa on Sunday, I suspect they’ll do so without Tom Wilson. Four of the next six games will be on the road.
