This is your place to check for updates and comment along with the Washington Capitals vs. Anaheim Ducks game on March 1, 2023.
The Washington Capitals enter tonight’s Anaheim Ducks game a shell of what they used to be.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan traded five different pending UFAs over the last week including Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway, Erik Gustafsson, Marcus Johansson, and Lars Eller. The Caps have five unrestricted free agents remaining on the roster Conor Sheary, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Craig Smith, and Matt Irwin.
One of the newest Capitals, young defenseman Rasmus Sandin, will not play tonight due to visa issues, meaning the return of Matt Irwin and Dylan McIlrath on the third pairing.
At this point, losing, and losing a lot, is more beneficial for the Capitals than winning. While that’s no fun, let’s try to enjoy this as much as we can down the stretch.
Tonight’s game is on NBC Sports Washington. Puck drop is a little after 10 pm.
Lines
Lineys#CapsDucks | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/cmIwzxjhjf
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 2, 2023
Scott Harrington will make his Ducks debut tonight. John Klingberg and Dmitry Kulikov are scratched. #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/BBowU3RHVc
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) March 2, 2023
Pregame Shenanigans
We want you, 🌞#CapsDucks | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/RRzWSrXylJ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 2, 2023
1st Period
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson and Jensen-Fehervary get the start. Darcy Kuemper will oppose John Gibson in net.
The Capitals’ Dylan Strome takes the games first penalty, a trip, on Brett Leason at 2:25 in the period.
John Gibson stops a Nic Dowd chance shorthanded with his mask.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. Martin Fehervary scores on a put-in after a slick cross-ice pass from Nicklas Backstrom. Dylan McIlrath gets his first point, a secondary assist, as a Capital. The goal came 8:58 into the first period.
🚨 1-1 tie. Troy Terry skates around most of the Capitals’ forwards and then shoots past Dylan McIlrath’s sweeping stick check. The goal came 13:01 into the period.
Capitals out-shooting the Ducks 13-9 and out-attempting the Ducks 15-13 at 5v5. The Capitals have an expected goals edge of 0.80 to 0.57.
2nd Period
Nicolas Aube-Kubel draws a penalty after a big hit along the side boards.
The Capitals are going with five forwards on the power play.
Trevor Zegras gets called for a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. He was screaming at an official from the bench.
The Capitals are out-shooting Anaheim lorge’ly but not scoring. The Caps outshot Anaheim 18-4 in the second. They now have a 31-13 edge total in shots. But the game doesn’t feel nearly as lopsided as the shots stat is showing.
3rd Period
🚨 2-1 Capitals. Tom Wilson scores eight seconds into the third period via a one-timer from the slot.
Anthony Mantha misses on a penalty shot. He tried to beat Gibson blocker side low and appeared to miss the net.
🚨 2-2 tie. Turnover by Alex Alexeyev on an errant pass to TVR ends up on Trevor Zegras’s stick for a goal.
Tom Wilson fights Nathan Beaulieu. It was a spirited fight. Beaulieu’s nose was bloodied some due to his visor. Wilson’s knuckles were bloodied and he left the game.
The Capitals get a point as the game goes to overtime. Capitals outshoot the Ducks 38 to 23.
Overtime
🚨 3-2 Capitals. Tom Wilson wins it in overtime after a centering pass by TJ Oshie squeaks past Gibson.
Comment below. Refresh this article throughout the night as we’ll be updating it live.
