Hello, friends. Welcome to game number 80. And it’s another must-win game for our dear Capitals.
Today, Washington will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. They trail the Pittsburgh Penguins by one point in the second wild card spot while the New York Islanders are extraordinarily close to locking up the third and final guaranteed playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division. Here’s the current playoff picture.
To get two points, the Capitals will have to keep Nikita Kucherov in check. The Russian and former MVP has a ridiculous 141 points this season (43 goals and 98 assists).
The Capitals will go with the same lineup as their last game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Tonight’s game is on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is 5:30 pm (I thought it was 6 pm).
Lines
Washington Capitals
Scratches: Ivan Miroshnichenko, Michael Sgarbossa, and Lucas Johansen
Tampa Bay Lightning
Scratches: Calvin de Haan, Austin Watson, Haydn Fleury, Jonas Johansson, and Tyler Motte
Tunnel weirdness
Osh appears ready to go#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/XxWHTdTFnq
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 13, 2024
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Andrei Vasilevskiy in net. Ovechkin-McMichael-Oshie and Alexeyev-Jensen get the start.
Hendrix Lapierre goes hard into the end boards after being upset by Victor Hedman in a puck race. He gingerly made his way back to the Capitals bench after needing a minute to get up.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. Sonny Milano is the benefactor of a telegraphed pass by Max Pacioretty that the Lightning absolutely saw coming. The deflected pass though still somehow made it through to the Sonman who puts it home. It’s Milano’s 14th of the season. Assists: Max Pacioretty and Hendrix Lapierre. Time of goal 9:56.
🚨 1-1 tie. Lightning score on a double deflection off a point shot that z’s its way into the net. Anthony Duclair, set up in front of the net, was the last to touch the puck after Brayden Point had the initial redirect. Assists: Bradyen Point and Taylor Raddysh. Time of goal 13:06.
🚨 2-1 Capitals. Vasilevskiy clears the puck right to Sonny Milano who scores another layup. That’s his 15th of the season. Assists: Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas. Time of goal 14:00.
🚨 2-2 tie. Brandon Hagel dangles Nick Jensen and beats Lindgren to the top corner on his backhand. Beautiful play, but c’mon boys, you can’t give that one up. Assists: Steven Stamkos and Anthony Cirelli. Time of goal 16:24.
Nick Jensen not moving and knocked out after a tough hit by Michael Eyssimont between the benches. The stretcher is coming out. Scary. Very very scary.
Eyssimont not penalized for boarding. But he hit Jensen late and shoved him as Jensen was peeling away from him. The square of Jensen’s back hit the boards.
The period is ended 91 seconds early due to the hit.
Nick Jensen stretchered off ice after controversial hit by Michael Eyssimont into sideboards
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
The remaining 1:31 of the first period is played. Both teams switch sides.
A big hit by Alex Ovechkin eventually draws a penalty on Steven Stamkos who cross-checks TJ Oshie. The penalty comes at 2:39 of the second period.
Dylan Strome nearly scores on a rebound but Vasilevskiy goes to the splits to make the save.
Back at even strength, Lindgren makes two consecutive huge saves on Steven Stamkos.
Vasilevskiy makes two more huge saves on Dylan Strome during a rush up the ice.
The game is paused again with 5:48 in the second due to sunlight. Over the PA system, they ask for ushers to close the curtain in the upper bowl where the light is leaking through.
Nikita Kucherov just blatantly elbowed Tom Wilson in the face after Wilson leveled him with a big hit earlier. Somehow there’s no call. Capital One Arena is becoming a powderkeg. Dylan Strome is the only player to the box for hooking Brayden Point at 15:22.
Brilliant netminding by both goalies in the second period.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Tanner Jeannot to the box for boarding Vincent Iorio at 6:24. Another bad hit thrown by the Lightning.
Caps going two-men up for 1:07 after a Nick Paul tripping penalty at 7:17.
🚨 3-2 Caps. John Carlson scores on the 5-on-4 power play, beating Vasilevskiy to the top corner from the slot. Assists: Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson. Time of goal 8:29.
🚨 4-2 Caps. Nic Dowd finds the rebound in front of the net to give the Capitals some badly needed insurance.
Caps win? CAPS WIN.
Read the RMNB recap:
Playoff aspirations still alive: Capitals beat Lightning 4-2
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