Tonight is about Alex Ovechkin… and, well, turkeys.
The Washington Capitals will celebrate Ovechkin’s latest big round number milestones — hitting 900 goals and reaching 1,500 games — during a pregame ceremony. And they’ll also celebrate the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, so, if we’ve been good this year: there will be mites-on-ice dressed as turkeys.
Puck drop for tonight’s game will be around 7:30 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network. See you in the comments.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Winnipeg Jets
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Alex Ovechkin honored in a pregame ceremony.
Puck is dropped. Ovechkin-Strome-Beauvillier and Fehervary-Carlson get the start.
Sandin finds Milano wide open driving the net, but Comrie makes a big save.
Tom Wilson drives down the right wing and finds John Carlson, who joined the attack, for a huge slap shot, beating Comrie through the right arm.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: John Carlson (6). Assists: T. Wilson (12). Time: 6:38
Capitals have six of the first eight shots on net in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Chychrun beats Comrie bardown shortside. Wow, he’s feeling it.
2-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Jakob Chychrun (9). Assists: S. Milano (2), E. Frank (6). Time: 14:21
Big save by Charlie Lindgren with 26.5 seconds remaining in the period. Jets managed to cycle the puck low where there was a mess of bodies in front of the net.
John Carlson with a terrible turnover passing the puck in front of the net to Kyle Connor. Gabriel Vilardi scores a layup. Caps still lead 2-1.
2-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Gabriel Vilardi (9). Assists: K. Connor (15). Time: 19:38
Dylan Strome with a bit of a scrap with Vladislav Namestnikov along the end boards with 10 minutes remaining. He gets a double minor for roughing while Namestnikov only gets 2. Jets get their first power play. They’ll have 1:50 carry over to the next period.
At intermission: The Capitals lead 2-1. Shots are 11 to 7 Capitals.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Vilardi appears to have knocked that puck in with a high stick, but referees reviewed and said the call on the ice stands. I dunno about that one.
2-2 tie
PPG: Gabriel Vilardi (10). Assists: J. Morrissey (18), K. Connor (16). Time: 1:24
Ryan Leonard is a cheat code sometimes.
Ovechkin with a prayer from the sideboards, a spin-around wrister, that appears to chunk off a Jets defenseman and in. No. 908 of his career.
3-2 Washington Capitals
Goal: Alex Ovechkin (11). Assists: M. Roy (4), A. Beauvillier (3). Time: 5:02
Another quiet but dominant game by the Capitals. It’s like they’re driving 55 MPH on the highway. Crusing.
At intermission: The Capitals lead 3-2. Shots are 26 to 12 Caps. Though 5v5 attempts are much closer — 41 to 37 Caps.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
The Capitals will be on the power play for two minutes after Morgan Barron high-sticked Rasmus Sandin at the end of the second period.
Nothing going on that power play.
A beautiful Connor McMichael backhand goal on a breakaway. Caps get their 2-goal lead back with 14:35 remaining in the third period.
4-2 Washington Capitals
Goal: Connor McMichael (3). Unassisted. Time: 5:25
Capitals are 9-0 when they’ve scored four goals or more in a game this season.
Brandon Duhaime takes down Vladislav Namestnikov along the boards at the 7:35 mark. Jets back to the power play.
Big shot block by Martin Fehervary in the slot to potentially save a goal.
Jonathan Toews to the box for tripping Anthony Beauvillier at 12:03.
Carlson with a turnover on the power play that almost ends up as another shorthanded goal against.
It appears Justin Sourdif lost his man in front of the net and Mark Scheifele scores a layup.
4-3 Washington Capitals
Goal: Mark Scheifele (12). Assists: K. Connor (17), D. DeMelo (9). Time: 15:11
Comrie pulled for an extra attacker.
A few great chances but Lindgren shuts the door.
Caps hold on to win 4-3. They outshot the Jets 34 to 21.
Thanksgiving Eve victory on Ovi’s big night: Capitals beat Jets 4-3
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